Prescription or Poison?
The Benefits and Dangers of Herbal Remedies
by Amitava Dasgupta PhD
Store shelves packed with pills and powders — Labels filled with amazing claims — Headlines that say “Yes!” one month and “No!” the next — Finally, the Truth about Which Supplements Work and When They Are Safe to Use
Many believe that if it’s herbal, "natural" or for sale at a health-food store, it must be safe. But while dozens of medicines (including codeine and Sudafed) are plant-derived, so is the poison strychnine.
As more and more of us take daily medication to treat our mood, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., it is more important than ever to understand the interactions that can hurt us when we also take vitamins, herbs or homeopathic or ayurvedic remedies, or even if we drink a glass of grapefruit juice. Did you know that
- kava, common in stress and sleep remedies, can damage the liver?
- St. John’s wort can be helpful with mild to moderate depression but can complicate the treatment of many other conditions?
- most vitamins and herbs must be discontinued before surgery to guard against bleeding problems?
- many herbal, traditional Chinese and ayurvedic compounds are contaminated with pesticides, preservatives, lead, or other heavy metals?
Most of us don’t, because herbs and supplements are almost entirely unregulated. What’s more, while many of us seek alternative or complementary care, practitioners of these therapies may not be well-versed in potential drug-herb interactions and complications. At the same time, conventional “Western” doctors often know very little about herbs and supplements. All of the above makes this straight-shooting guide essential. You’ll learn
- which supplements and other remedies are proven to work and how and when to use them
- what combinations of herbs and drugs are dangerous and even deadly
- the supplements to avoid when pregnant, depressed or being treated for a variety of chronic illnesses
Written in clear language, based on up-to-date science and filled with quick-consult tables and charts, this book belongs on your bookshelf before any "natural" remedies get added to your medicine chest.
REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS
Even as the use of prescription drugs grows in the United States, the sale of herbal remedies, vitamins, and minerals is skyrocketing. Ironically, while some herbal remedies are thousands of years old, it is only now that modern science is beginning to understand their benefits and at the same time, recognize their dangers, particularly in combination with other substances.
This is why Amitava Dasgupta’s well-researched and well-written book, Prescription or Poison?, will be of great value to the consumer. Using published articles in medical literature as well as his own research, the author aims to provide “an unbiased view of the benefits and dangers of herbal remedies.”
Dasgupta begins with a review of complementary and alternative medicines and includes an important discussion of the role of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in controlling herbal supplements. The author addresses some of the benefits of such alternative medicines as acupuncture, yoga, and meditation before turning his attention to herbal supplements. A chapter on ayurvedic medicine offers a welcome explanation of this Indian system of medicine.
Dasgupta then provides a thorough and comprehensive review of herbal supplements that are considered relatively safe and effective, those that may boost your immune system, and those that are moderately toxic or severely toxic. A chapter on homeopathic remedies is included. One of the most important chapters in the book details how herbal remedies interact with traditional medicines. The chapter concerning food and alcohol interactions with common drugs is equally useful.
Also included is a discussion of essential oils and fish-oil supplements with some up-to-date research, as well as a complete discussion of vitamins, minerals, and vitamin/mineral supplements.
Throughout the book, the author includes charts that offer explanatory detail. For example, one chart presents the “tolerable upper intake level” of specific vitamins and minerals, while several others show the interactions of specific herbal supplements with common traditional medications. Included is an appendix that matches the generic drug names discussed in the book with common trade names.
Prescription or Poison? is written in layman’s terms, is based on current information and research, includes complete descriptions of common herbs, and uses several case studies that demonstrate benefits and dangers in real-life terms. This book is a superb reference tool for a consumer who takes prescription drugs and wants to avoid conflicts with herbs, food, alcohol, and other substances. It is just as valuable for anyone who wants an authoritative overview of the benefits and dangers of herbal remedies. - ForeWord Reviews
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgments
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Who Uses Them?
Some Relatively Safe and Effective Herbal Supplements
Essential Oils and Fish-Oil Supplements: How Effective Are They?
Herbal Supplements: That May Boost Your Immune System
Homeopathic Remedies: Relatively Safe Alternative Medicine
Vitamins and Minerals
Moderately Toxic Herbal Remedies That May Cause Organ Damage
Severely Toxic Herbal Remedies That May Even Cause Death
How Herbal Remedies Interact with Your Medicines
Food, Alcohol, Fruit Juices, Smoking - and Your Meds
Herbal Supplements, Alternative Therapies, and Women's Health
How Herbal Remedies May Affect Laboratory Test Results
Herbal Remedies That Are Misidentified or Contaminated with Heavy Metals or Western Drugs
An Introduction to Ayurvedic Medicine
Appendix A: Generic and Trade Names of Drugs Discussed in This Book
Appendix B: Herbal Supplements You Should Avoid Because They Are Potentially Toxic
Notes
Glossary
Further Reading
Index
PUBLICATION DETAILS
PUBLICATION DATE: May 2010
PAGES: 272
SIZE: 7 1/4 x 9 1/4
INDEXED: No
BIBLIOGRAPY: No
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amitava Dasgupta, PhD, is Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School. He holds a Master’s Degree in analytic chemistry from the University of Georgia and a PhD in organic chemistry from Stanford University. He serves on the editorial boards of several publications including Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and The American Journal of Clinical Pathology, is widely published in his field, and lives in Houston, Texas.
