Introduction | Herb use in Pregnancy | A selection of in-depth herb profiles

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Introduction

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"In general most herbal products are unlikely to pose a significant threat to human health." M.H.R.A. (Medicines Health Regulatory Agency)

Herbs, just as conventional medicine have a list of possible side effects when used in conjunction with prescribed drugs, many of these potential side effects however are not proven but merely supposition based on research theory. Little of this research is done with double blind clinical trial methods. Good research is not common and it is therefore sometimes superior and extensive clinical based evidence.

• The most common situation where herbs should be avoided is during pregnancy and breast feeding.
• Herbs are generally never advised for over the counter should any prescribed medication being taken.

Please also take a look at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency webpage 'Herbal Safety News'

If you require further information about contraindications and drug interactions please contact us. We have herbal practitioners available Monday - Friday 10.00 am - Noon Please enquire on 0870 755 48 48

Herbs, just as conventional medicine have a list of possible side effects when used in conjunction with prescribed drugs or with certain ailments.

The most common situation where herbs should be avoided is during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

A large proportion of herb research is based on the scientific understanding of likely chemical interactions. Because herbs are so unique, clever and very different to chemicals these interactions very often don't happen and the supposition that it might or could can be very misleading. This kind of research is often reflected in journals and research papers so clinical, empirical knowledge is also vital. The German E Monograph information (marked E in the text) is an ideal example of this kind of scientific appraisal and so it is important to reflect on this and realize that not all the German E monograph information is fully reliable in terms of warnings and yet it represents a great deal of what is currently termed research and subsequently used by journalists. Also to be fair a lot of the German E monographs material contains useful information. This is why the manual reflects other information and empirical knowledge. The N.H.S. is currently intending to spend money on herbal research and the government, the M.H.R.A. and the E.H.T.P.A.; feel this would be wiser than letting pharmaceutical companies fund such things and would welcome the help.

Most research that herbalists have access to is done on standardized extracts which means that a potential 30 - 70% of the plants natural bio-chemistry is ignored and therefore the components that are chosen are taken out of context and made into very powerful, almost drug-like versions but none the less called 'St. John's Wort' or 'Ginkgo', therefore the debate and issue of 'Standardized' against 'Whole' rages on; with herbalists (except for some extreme and warranted circumstances) not in favour and the pharmaceutical companies in favour.

For instance with standardized Gingko extract - 24% are flavone glycosides and to obtain this gingko is mixed with acetone, chloroform hexane etc. in order to extract the desired compounds (on average the amount of herb used is 50:1 which represents 50lbs leaves to 1oz produced). Residues of chemical solvents can be left in and herbalists feel that this is another reason to avoid them. If mistakes were to be made in connection with choosing certain chemical constituents then Ginger could illustrate this. In ginger two phenols called shogaol and gingerol are mutogenic (isolated on their own), but as a 'whole' plant with another phenol being present called zingerone (anti-mutagenic) a positive outcome is produced!

State funded research which is anticipated for the future will have to be carefully directed. Use of the 'whole herb' with real herbalists (and not commercial herb/pharmaceutical companies) advising at every step of the way will be vital.