Herbal remedies are not as harmless as they seem, because there are 10 popular herbs that do not match with medicines.
The Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) has come up with a list of ten popular herbs that are not so good to take in combination with certain medicines. For example, there are herbs that can ensure that some medicines are not properly absorbed by the body or are even broken down, which can lead to life-threatening situations.
MEB chairman Prof. Dr. Ton de Boer:“Herbs may seem harmless, but they are not always so. The combination of medicines and herbal products is sometimes dangerous. It is therefore important that drug users know what the risks are and that they always inform their healthcare provider.”
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For example, St. John's wort and turmeric can ensure that medicines against cancer are broken down more quickly, so that they have less effect. St. John's wort also affects antidepressants. Ginseng and ginkgo can affect blood clotting and the use of a blood-thinning medicine increases the risk of thrombosis or a heart and cerebral infarction.
These are the ten herbs that the MEB warns:
Check the site of the MEB to find out what the combination of these herbs and certain medication can cause.
