We are just scratching the tip of the iceberg as far as herbal-drug interactions are concerned. Certain side effects also become more apparent only after long-term use or if systematically solicited. There is some evidence that St. John's wort may cause certain liver enzymes to process those types of medications faster than usual, resulting in less effective doses of those drugs in the body. Muskin points out that physicians are reluctant to recommend the use of St. John's wort to patients because information on reliable brands of the herb is sketchy. It's a real concern.
Researchers point out that it is misleading to believe that natural is safer.
Just because something is an herb does not mean that it is automatically devoid of side effects or drug interactions. People should not self-medicate, and should discuss their use of the herb with their doctors, researchers say. There is a lot that is valuable in complimentary and alternative medicine, if people want to use it, they should tell their physicians, according to Muskin. An open-minded approach from both physicians and patients is really what gets people better. The findings appear in the January 2001 issue of Public Health Nutrition.