  |
|
|
|
If you don't think herbs are very potent read what a recent study into herbs and surgery found. Researchers found that frequently used herbal remedies can be very harmful if taken before surgery.
They also listed the concerns associated with each. For echinacea the concerns were allergic reactions, affects on immunosuppressive drugs and impairment of wound healing. For ephedra (ma huang) they were increased risk of heart attack, heart rhythm abnormalities, strokes and interactions with other drugs. For garlic they included an increased risk of bleeding, particularly if anti-clot medications were in use. For gingko biloba they listed an increased risk of bleeding and interference with anti-clot medications. For ginseng the concerns were reduced blood sugar levels, increased risk of bleeding and interference with warfarin, a popular anti-clot medication. For kava they reported increased sedative effects of the anesthesia, risks of addiction and possible withdrawal effects. For St. John's wort the concern was altered metabolism of many other drugs. And for valerian they warn that it could increase the effects of sedatives and that long-term use could decrease the amount of anesthesia normally used and result in severe withdrawal symptoms. Another study has reported that kava has effective sedative properties and it can be harmful if combined with other central nervous system depressants. There is even a report of a man who took kava and Xanax, a common depressant, and ended up in a coma. While these reports are concerning, they do show one thing: that herbs can be just as potent as conventional drugs. And this is not always a bad thing. Other scientific studies have shown positive effects of herbs. A herbal weight loss treatment has been shown to be effective. The treatment, known as YDG comes from South America and contains Yerbe Mate, Guarana and Damiana. Researchers found that it slows down gastric emptying and this allows you to feel fuller for longer. Another study has found that ginseng has the ability to lower blood sugar in healthy people and may be of use in diabetics. One study on animals has suggested that low doses of ginkgo biloba may offer some protection against stroke. Another recent study has found that garlic and St John's Wort reduce the pain of middle ear infections. Other scientific studies have found that some herbs are not useful but also not harmful, they are simply completely ineffective. One example is a recent study into black cohosh, a common herb used to treat hot flushes during menopause. Results of this study showed that the herb had no effect at all. Go To Page: 1 2 |
|
|
|
