 Last
Updated
September 01, 1999
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Bernd
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Ten Most
Commonly used Medicinal Herbs
by Bernd Wollschlaeger, M.D.
Herb |
Suggested Applications |
Precaution |
Interaction |
Dosing |
Echinacea
Leaf, stalk, root |
URI treatment and prevention; Immunestimulation;
Antimicrobial |
Immunesuppression with continuous use; Contraindicated
in autoimmune disease; |
None reported |
Not standardized; Dried extract:300-400mg
TID;
Tincture: 30-50drps.TID
Children <10yrs. 50% dose |
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium |
Treatment of Migraine; Headache
prophylaxis;
Postulated spasmolytic effects;
Not effective in RA |
GI irritation (5-15%); Rebound headache ;
May potentiate platelet inhibitors and Increase bleeding; |
Interaction with anticoagulants and platelet
inhibitors |
Standardized parthenolide content no less than
0.2%; 25-75mg of dried leave extract BID, max 125mg daily. |
Garlic
Allium sativum
Crushed cells of bulb release alliin converted to active allicin. |
>9% decrease in Cholesterol, LDL, TG,
Increase HDL ; Mild antihypertensive;
Antiplatelet; Antioxidants;
Antimicrobial;
May prevent malignancies. |
No serious side effects known; Halitosis,
topical irritation, GI upset; |
May potentiate hypoglycemic &antiplatelet
therapy. |
Not standardized; Fresh cloves: 0.5
–1 g QD
Pills: 600-900mg QD (standardized to 0.6%-1.3% allicin)
Powder: 04-1.2gr. |
Ginger
Zingiber officinale |
Antiemetic-Motion Sickness, chemotherapy,
surgery, pregnancy; Antiinflammatory-Arthritis;
Possible positive inotropic effects. |
No serious side effects known; Minor
effects: GI upset and allergy (rare) Inhibits thromboxane synthetase (platelet
aggregation) and is a prostacyclin agonist (prolonged bleeding time). |
Interacts with antiplatelet and anticoagulant
therapy. |
Not standardized. Capsules: 250-1000mg.
Adult dose: 1gr 30 minutes prior to travel, then 0.5-1.0 gr. q4 hrs (max.daily
2-4gr.).
Prior to chemotherapy: 1gr. PO |
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba Leaf extract |
Dementia: slows cognitive deterioration. Claudication:
improves pain-free walking distance.
Tinnitus, Vertigo, SSRI induced sexual dysfunction. |
Ginkgolipide is a selective antagonist of
platelet aggregation; Minor GI upset;
Reported HA. |
Interacts with antiplatelet and anticoagulant
therapy. |
Standardized extract contains 6% terpenoids
and 24% flavenoids. Adult dose: 60-80mg leaf extract BID-TID.
Effects can take from 1-2 months to appear.
Treatment duration: 6-12 weeks. |
Herb |
Indication |
Precaution |
Interaction
|
Dosing |
Ginseng
Panax ginseng
Root extract |
Endurance and adaptation enhancer; Increase
in cognitive function; Resistance to stress; Immune and endocrine stimulant. |
Nervousness and agitation; Headache, Insomnia
and palpitation; Estrogenic effects can cause mastalgia and vaginal bleeding. |
Avoid use with other stimulants; Possible
interaction with Furosemide;
May increase digoxin level. |
Not standardized. Adult dose: 1-2 gr. of
root daily or 100-300mg of extract (standardized to contain 7% ginsenosides) TID for 3-4
weeks. |
Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum
Fruit extract
(silymarin is a mixture of derivatives found only in the fruit) |
Hepatoprotective and antioxidant; Indication:
acute hepatitis from toxins(mushrooms, alcohol).
Chronic active hepatitis.
Cirrhosis – questionable |
No serious side effects known; Mild
diarrhea. One report of allergic urticaria.
DO NOT USE IN DECOMPENSATED CIRRHOSIS. |
None reported. |
Standardized extract contains 70% of
silymarin. Adult dose: Capsule 140mg BID-TID,
Acute poisoning: i.v. silymarin 20-50mg/kg per day. |
Ma Huang
Ephedra sinica
Over 40 species, whose contents vary, some contain alkaloids. |
Asthma: Bronchodilator,
vasoconstrictor, may reduce bronchial edema. Weight Loss: not shown to be safe
and effective, although it is a common ingredient of WT loss products. |
Can cause hypertension, CNS stimulation,
hyperglycemia. MISUSE HAS CAUSED DEATHS. |
Avoid use with CNS stimulants. |
No standardized products available. North
and Central American products (E. nevadensis-Mormon Tea) contain no alkaloids.
Adult dose: 2g ( 1 heaping tsp.-15-30mg of ephedrine) in 240ml of boiling water, steep
for 10 minutes. |
Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repens
Fruit of the
Sabal Palm |
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); Increase
urinary flow and decreases frequency.
Efficacy=Finasteride;
5 alpha-reductase inhibition. |
No serious side effects or drugs interactions
known. Not associated with decreased libido or changes in PSA.
Mild GI upset, HA, diarrhea. |
None reported. |
Standardized extract contains 85%-95% fatty
acids and steroids. Adult dose: 320mg PO QD |
St. Johns Wort
Hypericum perforatum
Flower, Leaf |
Mild to Moderate Depression. Anti-inflammatory
activity. |
Large dosage can cause photosensitization. Can
increase serotonin levels.
No clinical MAOI-inhibition. |
Don’t take with SSRI’s or other
antidepressants. |
Standardized extract contains 0.3% hypericin. Adult
dose: 300mg PO TID no more than 8 weeks.
Long term use not yet studied. |
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