From echinacea to ayurvedics, this book explains how toxic these remedies are alone or in combination with other widely prescribed drug treatments. For example, one should avoid most herbal remedies when pregnant because of pesticides and preservatives required in growth and storage of the herbs; a widely used herbal antidepressant called kava does damage to the liver; most ayurvedic medicines contain unacceptable levels of lead and other heavy metals; St. John's Wort is not recommended if you are taking a medication for any chronic medical condition. Dr. Dasgupta explains in simple, engaging prose what drug interactions are and why they are dangerous. Most educated people see herbal remedies as "natural" and therefore "safe." Dr. Dasgupta tells us that one of his first pharmacology professors taught him that "medicine" is just another word for "poison" and should be treated with the same respect. He will present a balanced account of efficacy and safety of herbal medicines with discussion on potentially unsafe and toxic remedies. This book will be written in layman’s language for the consumer health market but will be based on solid medical research and published reports in the medical literature.

From echinacea to ayurvedics, this book explains how toxic these remedies are alone or in combination with other widely prescribed drug treatments. For example, one should avoid most herbal remedies when pregnant because of pesticides and preservatives required in growth and storage of the herbs; a widely used herbal antidepressant called kava does damage to the liver; most ayurvedic medicines contain unacceptable levels of lead and other heavy metals; St. John's Wort is not recommended if you are taking a medication for any chronic medical condition. Dr. Dasgupta explains in simple, engaging prose what drug interactions are and why they are dangerous. Most educated people see herbal remedies as "natural" and therefore "safe." Dr. Dasgupta tells us that one of his first pharmacology professors taught him that "medicine" is just another word for "poison" and should be treated with the same respect. He will present a balanced account of efficacy and safety of herbal medicines with discussion on potentially unsafe and toxic remedies. This book will be written in layman’s language for the consumer health market but will be based on solid medical research and published reports in the medical literature.

Chapter 1. Herbal Remedies: How many people are taking them and who are these people? This chapter will discuss annual sales of herbal medicines in US ($7 billion), people who use these remedies, and regulations or lack thereof such as dietary supplement act. This also talks about age of population as well as education level of people taking herbal remedies. Are you one of them?

Chapter 2. Relatively Safe Herbal Supplements that you may consider taking
This chapter will provide a general overview of herbals currently available, the research that is being conducted to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Herbal remedies such as ginseng, ginger, garlic, echinacea, various herbal green tea preparations, saw palmetto etc., are relatively safe and may have heath benefits. This chapter will provide a clear perspective and advice to people on which supplements they should consider using.

Chapter 3. Herbal Remedies that may Cause Organ Damage
Many herbal remedies can cause significant organ damage. Liver toxicity due to use of kava, chaparral, germander and comfrey have been well documented in the medical literature. Herbal remedies containing aristolochic acid (snake weed, birthroot, wild ginger and snakeroot) may cause renal failure as well as irreversible kidney damage. Use of licorice may increase blood pressure. Other toxic herbs such as pokeweed, bitter orange, skullcap, cat’s claw and yohimbe will also be discussed in this chapter. This chapter will provide clear guidelines about which herbal supplements they should avoid and why.

Chapter 4. Herbal remedies and death wish
Ma huang and related herbal weight loss products are very toxic and should not be used. Certain Chinese herbal supplements such as Chan Su and Lu-Shen-wan are very toxic and may even cause death. Herbal supplements containing oleander are also associated with fatality. Unless you have a death wish do not take these supplements. Clear perspective will be given with practical reasons why you should avoid these supplements at any cost.

Chapter 5. Interaction of Herbal Remedies with Your Medicines
Although herbal antidepressant St. John’s wort is relatively safe and effective, this herbal supplement also increases metabolism of many Western drugs causing treatment failure. A patient taking any prescription medication for a chronic condition should not use this herbal supplement without approval of the physician. Transplant recipients, patients receiving warfarin therapy and patients with HIV are especially vulnerable from treatment failure if they use St. John’s wort. This chapter will provide clear guidelines on which supplements you should avoid if you are taking Western medicines (common medicines people take for hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis and other common medical conditions). Moreover, guidelines will be provided in tabular form for quick reference.

Chapter 6. Think Twice Before Taking Your Medicine with a Glass of Grapefruit Juice
Though not considered an herbal supplement, grapefruit juice may cause drug toxicity because more drugs are absorbed if a person drinks grapefruit juice. This effect for certain drugs may last up to 24 hours. In addition, several fruit juices such as cranberry and Seville orange can alter the way some medications are handled by the body and hinder their effectiveness or cause toxicity. This chapter will also provide clear perspective and guidelines which fruit juices you should avoid and which fruit juices are safe to drink on a regular basis if you are taking any Western medicine for treatment of common chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, etc.

Chapter 7. Herbal Remedies and Heavy Metal Poisoning
Many herbal medicines imported from China, India and other Asian countries are contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic. Even herbal vitamin capsules imported from India caused severe anemia and lead toxicity in normal people. Herbal remedies produced in the United States are relatively free from heavy metals. Therefore in the author’s opinion it is better to avoid herbal supplements that are imported from China and other Asian countries.

Chapter 8. Herbal Remedies Contaminated with Western Drugs
In addition to heavy metal contamination, many drugs imported from various Asian countries may be contaminated with Western drugs at the manufacturer. Use of such supplement may cause severe drug toxicity and consumers must be cautioned against using imported herbal supplements.

Chapter 9. Herbal Remedies and Laboratory Tests
In addition to drug interaction, many herbal supplements may also cause unexpected test results. Ceratin Chinese herbal supplements falsely elevate digoxin blood level. Abnormal liver function test, abnormal coagulation test and abnormal thyroid test results are a few examples of unexpected test results in a person due to use of certain herbal supplements. Because many patients do not tell their doctors that they are using herbal supplements, doctors are often confused with such results. This is the reason you must tell your doctor that you are using an herbal supplement.

Chapter 10. Homeopathic Remedies: Are they safe?
This chapter will focus on basic principles of homeopathic remedies including commonly used remedies. There is a detailed discussion on the dilution issue of homeopathic medicine as well as modern scientific research on its efficacy. Homeopathic remedies are relatively safe because active ingredients are present in minute amounts. You may consider taking homeopathic remedies after talking to a practitioner such as an ND: Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.

Chapter 11. Ayurvedic medicines: When old is not always gold
Ayurvedic medicines dates back to 2500 BC in India and are considered a medical system which treats the whole body not just the disease. There are three elements in the body: batta, pitta and cough. However, today many Ayurvedic medicines which originate from India are contaminated with heavy metals because the manufacturers follow the old methods of preparing such remedies. This is a major health issue.

Chapter 12. How to Tell Your Health Care Provider You Are Using Herbal Remedies
This chapter provides talking points for a patient's use in discussing their use of an herbal remedy with their health care provider.