Dangerous Herb-Medication Interactions, Part 1

Is it safe to use herbal supplements?

The use of herbs for disease prevention and healing has a long history - dating back thousands of years and medicines extracted from botanicals include reserpine, morphine, penicillin, as well as anti-cancer drugs.

Herbal supplements can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) and may be labeled "all-natural" and are sold in many different forms - dried leaves for teas, powdered, as capsules or tablets, or in solution.

But does "all-natural" mean they are always safe?

Absolutely not! Although herbal supplements may be from plant or herb sources, the active ingredients are potent chemicals. Because of this, herbal supplements can have drug interactions, interactions with other herbs, or with food and alcohol.

Herbal interactions with prescription medications or other chemicals can:

• interfere with how the drug may be broken down in the body
• enhance side effects of prescription medications
• block the intended therapeutic effect of a drug

BLACK COHOSH (Actaea racemosa, formerly Cimicifuga racemosa)

Black cohosh is a shrub-like plant found in North America. Black cohosh is often used for menopausal disorders ("hot flashes"), painful menstruation, uterine spasms, and vaginitis. However, prescription drugs broken down by certain liver enzymes may accumulate in the body and lead to toxicity if used with black cohosh. There is concern that black cohosh might also be toxic to the liver and may enhance liver toxicity with certain medications, such as:

• Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

May reduce the effectiveness of:

• Amiodarone
• Fexofenadine (Allegra)
• Glyburide, and many statin medications

COENZYME Q10

CoenzymeQ10 is found naturally in the heart, kidney, liver and pancreas, but aging and smoking can deplete these natural stores. CoQ10 is promoted to help heart damage caused by certain cancer medicines and for breast cancer, gum disease, or muscular dystrophy, although robust studies confirming these uses are lacking.

• May decrease the blood-thinning effects of the anticoagulant and increase the risk for a clot.

CRANBERRY

Cranberries are a fruit chock full of vitamin C, and some people drink cranberry juice to help prevent urinary tract infections (UTI). Although data is conflicting, some studies have shown cranberry can reduce recurrent UTIs in pregnant women, the elderly, and hospitalized patients; but it is not helpful to cure a UTI.

• May exert an increased effect on blood thinners (anticoagulants) like warfarin and lead to bruising or bleeding.

CURCUMIN

Curcuma longa

Research suggests that curcumin can help in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and subsequent performance of active people.

• May cause decreased levels of many antidepressant and antipsychotic medications
• May increase sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) levels

ECHINACEA

Also known as the American Cone Flower, Black Susan, or Purple Coneflower.

Echinacea has been used to stimulate the immune system and is most commonly used in the treatment of the common cold.

• May affect blood levels of drugs like tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• a muscle relaxant or rasagiline (Azilect) used in Parkinson's disease.
• May slow the metabolism of caffeine in your body, and could lead to side effects like jitteriness, headache, or insomnia.
• Echinacea may also change how the body metabolizes many drugs that go through the liver. These are somewhat complicated interactions that can lead to side effects or reduced effectiveness of your medicine.

EVENING PRIMROSE

Used to treat atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema), rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain, menopause symptoms, and other conditions. contains gamma linoleic acid that may slow blood clotting and increase the likelihood of bruising or bleeding.

• May increase blood thinner effects of warfarin (Coumadin)
• May increase the risk for seizures if you take anti-seizure medications or phenothiazine drugs.

To be continued next week...

Written by Erika M Szabo

https://online.fliphtml5.com/cmebw/yrgf/

 

Are Insecure Men Intimidated by Strong Women?

Female youth is prized in our culture

Our patriarchal society demands that women strive to achieve yet maintain a form that resembles a young girl. Our bodies must look young, wrinkle, and blemish-free, a blank slate for a man to claim.

Instead of accepting women as they are, most men and even some women, scrutinize and discard them as never good enough, never young enough, and never beautiful enough. And the more women strive to conform, the more they give up control.

Do strong, opinionated women intimidate weak, insecure men? Yes, I still see it when I talk to some over sixty-ish men, and even younger.

I had this interesting conversation with an old man I know for over 20 years, at the doctor's waiting room, before wearing masks and social distancing. He was watching a young couple arguing for a while and then turned to me. "You know, life was easier when women obeyed their husbands and knew their place."
Me: "Oh? What makes you say that?"
Old man: "Just look at them! It would be easier if the wife just obeyed him and didn't make him angry by arguing with him. A woman's job is to take care of the family. Men needs to be in charge to make decisions. Women are too emotional."
Me: "Really!?"
Old man: "Do you obey your husband?"
Me: "Fat chance!" I laughed. 

When instead of a mature woman, a 35-year-old actress is playing the role of the mother of a 30-year-old man in movies, what does it teach young teenagers? It teaches them to judge women by their looks alone. When people comment on older women’s posts on social sites, sadly, most of the comments are about how they look and not about what they stand for or achieve.

Female youth is prized in our culture because it doesn't represent too much of a threat. Insecure men are intimidated by strong, wise, mature women. Women are trained into thinking there is something fundamentally wrong with getting older and are coerced into spending money, energy, and power investing in 'slowing the signs of aging'.

The truth is that as women grow and mature, they gain wisdom and they're more of a force to be reckoned with. They see more, know more, feel more, and they put up with a lot less bullshit.

Just think about what would happen if all the women in the world started loving themselves even more with every year that passed, including each fat roll and wrinkle they gain as they move forward in time. Can you imagine how much more secure and powerful women would become as they grow older?

Written by Erika M Szabo

https://online.fliphtml5.com/cmebw/yrgf/

Why Does Your Cat Smell Your Face?

Interesting facts about cats

Although a cat's sense of smell is not as good as a dogs' but it's far better than a human's. Like dogs, cats use their sense of smell to gather information, including information about us.

When your cat sniffs your face and breath, they're simply memorizing your scent. They recognize your scent and find it comforting. 

But why are they doing it every day or even a few times a day?

Cats rely heavily on their strong sense of smell to give them information about food, prey, and their general surroundings. Sniffing you often tells them a lot about your diet, the cosmetic and personal care products you're using, and your unique skin chemistry. Memorizing your scent also helps them to build trust and familiarity, so let your cat sniff away!

Cats have an organ at the roof of their mouths behind their front teeth called the vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ. When your cat takes a sniff and leaves its mouth open for a few seconds, it's actually drawing air into the mouth and up into the Jacobson's organ.

Also, when your cat makes a strange face when smelling your face, hand or feet, it is because it smelled something interesting and is drawing the scent into the Jacobson's organ to get a better smell.

Posted by Erika M Szabo

Author of epic fantasy, alternate history, sweet romance, romantic suspense, dystopian and cozy mystery novels, short stories, as well as YA and children’s books

https://www.authorerikamszabo.com

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