For hundreds, if not thousands of years, humans have been using herbal remedies to treat the sick.  Their use was once the only chemical option available to treat various disease states, and in some cultures is still viewed with high regard today.  And although some of these herbal medications do have positive effects, in many cases the risk isn’t worth the benefit!

According to a study done by the Mayo Clinic, more than 15 million Americans use herbal remedies or high-dose vitamins.  Many use them because they think “natural” means safer. On the contrary, these herbal medications don’t go through the testing by the FDA to meet safety and efficacy standards.  Along with that, the potential for interactions between herbal medications and prescriptions can have catastrophic outcomes.  According to Dr. Arshad Jahangir, M.D. at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, “We can see the effect of some of these herb-drug interactions — some of which can be life-threatening — on tests for blood clotting, liver enzymes and, with some medications, on electrocardiogram.”

If you use, or are considering using herbal medications, talk with your Doctor or Pharmacist.  Be sure they have a list of all of the medications and disease states related to your health to help you make a best decision about usage and avoid any serious complications.  As always, feel free to contact one of the Pharmacists at Rx Savings Solutions for help on medication matters.