Acne: Recommendations are easy; data, scarce
Herbalists recommend more than a dozen herbal remedies for acne and scarring, according to a recent article. Unfortunately, only 1 of these herbals is supported by the results of a study in patients.
Search Results for: goldenseal
Ineffective herbal remedies for treating acne
I recently came across a website advocating herbals to treat or prevent acne. The website isn’t important, but the results of my PubMed searches might be useful.
Herbals and the risk of an interaction with tamoxifen
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota have listed drugs to avoid when taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex) to treat breast cancer, but they omit reference to herbal supplements. A study from the University of Arkansas helps correct their oversight.
CYP2D6-mediated herb-drug interactions
Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a liver enzyme responsible for the metabolism of approximately 30% of all drugs. Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock studied the effect of CYP2D6 on the metabolism of several herbal supplements and the risk of drug interactions.
Use of Chinese medicine in HIV patients
This survey of male Chinese HIV patients provides an opportunity to review the risk for interactions between Chinese herbal medicine and drugs used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Most commonly used natural products
Here’s a follow-up to an earlier post on the use of CAM in the US in 2007 as surveyed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
What not to take before surgery
OK, you’re scheduled for surgery, and you take herbals. Does your surgeon know what you take? Be smart. If you use any of the herbals on this list, tell your surgeon.
The goldenseal (berberine)/cyclosporine drug interaction
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is promoted for a variety of uses. The active components are hydrastine and berberine. Both inhibit the liver metabolizing enzyme system known as cytochrome P450. Therefore, people treated the immunosuppressant, cyclosporine A (CsA; Sandimmune) and taking this herbal or berberine are at risk of a drug interaction. Here’s what we know based … Continue reading The goldenseal (berberine)/cyclosporine drug interaction
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in herbal products
Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of antibiotics. You’re exposed to these bacteria when you swallow the herbal medicine.
Interactions between supplements and drugs used to treat AIDS
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have reviewed natural health products (NHPs) and antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Here are the results
No interaction between goldenseal or kava kava and digoxin
This seems to be the first time the potential for these interactions has been studied.
Risk of herbals and vitamins in HIV/AIDS
 People with HIV/AIDS commonly take herbals and vitamins, often without the knowledge of their doctor. Here are examples of interactions with antiretroviral drugs that might be harmful.