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Echinacea
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Updated 13/03/2007

Herbs in general

Many herbal and other remedies are either not covered by regulations or only covered by regulations regarding food supplements. This does not mean that they are safe. For example, some Chinese herbal remedies have been shown to cause serious liver and kidney damage. The Chinese herbs Aristolochia, Stephania tetranda and  Magnolia officinalis have been banned in the UK after some patients developed kidney failure. Kava Kava has now also been banned after it was found to be the cause of many cases of liver failure around the world.

The lack of standardisation of processing methods also affects safety. See opposing effects of Ginseng.

The BBC broadcast a series of programmes about herbs. The support  information may still be available on the BBC website  www.bbc.co.uk

Cancer patients told to stay away from herbal remedies

Source: Daily Telegraph  Date: 21/01/2004
Dr Ursula Wernecke has warned against cancer patients using herbal remedies and food supplements as they can interact with the other treatments and increase the effect on the body. Dr Wernecke, reporting in the British Journal of Cancer, conducted a study of 300 cancer patients at the Royal Marsden Hospital, and found that half were taking herbal remedies, food supplements or both. One cancer patient in eight had been warned by their chemist of the possible side-effects of taking supplements. Echinacea, St John's Wort and garlic are all known to affect cancer treatments, and other studies have shown that complementary medicines can have sometimes dangerous side effects.

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Black cohosh - Millions of women alerted to danger of 'HRT' herb

Source: The Times Date: 19/07/2006
In a widely-featured story in today's newspapers it is reported that millions of women may be at risk of liver disorders because they take the herbal remedy black cohosh, a relative of the buttercup, as a means of counteracting the symptoms of menopause. An official alert over Cimicifuga racemosa was issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency yesterday. The MHRA has said that all black cohosh products should carry a warning label that says that in rare cases it can damage the liver. The European Medicines Agency is also advising people who use herbal remedies containing the herb to seek immediate medical advice if they become unwell. In Britain a total of 31 cases of suspected liver problems have been reported ranging from hepatitis (liver inflammation) to one case of liver failure. Black cohosh is also sold as black snake root, rattle snake root or squaw root in a market worth ₤4.6 million a year. The herb has been available in Britain for more than 20 years and is used widely in the US and Europe. Its use has increased since 2003, when a study linked HRT with a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks and breast cancer. It is thought that the herb helps to ease menopause symptoms because it may have a weak oestrogenic effect. An estimated nine million doses are taken every day by women seeking to relieve hot flushes. John McKee, chairman of the National Association of health stores said 'I really hope women will not be too alarmed about this statement, but we shall be putting labels on products warning that it may cause liver toxicity in rare cases'. People already taking the remedy are not being warned to stop, but should seek medical advice if they begin suffering from symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain or yellowing of the eye or skin.

Butterbur

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus, butter dock, bog rhubarb) is a plant native to Europe, northern Africa and south west Asia. Its leaves and roots contain petasines which are compounds inhibiting leukotriene production; a cell line implicated in allergy and inflammation.

A randomised controlled trial compared  a standardised extract of butterbur with the antihistamine cetirizine (published in the BMJ 2002). Scoring using a non-specific symptom scoring system showed similar results in the two groups.

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Grapefruit seed extract

A BBC doctor could find no evidence that this works against thrush. One of the teams that provide us with evidence based medical information used their own system to look for either positive or negative research data. This showed that 5 of 6 commercial grapefruit seed extracts were effective against a strain of thrush. Further investigation showed that the seed extract itself had no effect; the positive results were from those extracts using chemicals to preserve grapefruit particularly benzethonium.

Chemicals within the extract have been shown to prevent histamine release from allergy cells implicated in hay fever. However, a pilot study published in 2002 failed to show a benefit greater than in the placebo group.

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Honey

For information see http://www.nhb.org        Up to top

Lavender

A small study at the University of Florida found that although inhaling lavender oil did not change the nervous system's pain responses, it did tone down the recollected experience. Aromatherapy may therefore have a role in pain management.

Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto fruit extract is effective in men with mild symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia but be certain that the problem is benign before self medication.    Up to top

Snoring

Farmacia (herbalist, naturopath & homeopath) have formulated a herbal snoring remedy. Contact 020 740 48808. Do not use with any other medication.       Up to top

Tea tree oil

 This oil does have antimicrobial properties in test conditions. 2 of the 100 chemically distinct components are largely responsible for this effect. As well as antibacterial effects, an antifungal effect of 100% tea tree oil has been demonstrated with fungal nail infections responding as well as to 1% clotrimazole and also in a comparison to placebo, with an 80% cure rate compared to 0% with placebo.    Up to top

Vitamins and minerals

Click here for onsite information about vitamins and minerals.

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