Herbal Supplements Efficacy, Toxicity, Interactions with Western Drugs, and Effects on Clinical Laboratory Tests

by Dasgupta, Amitava; Hammett-Stabler, Catherine A.

• ISBN13: 9780470433508
• ISBN10: 0470433507
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-02-02
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This book focuses on efficacy, toxicity, drug interactions, and abnormal clinical laboratory tests resulting from the use of herbal remedies. Although a few herbal remedies are safe and have efficacy (for example saw palmetto), many herbal remedies are toxic. This book guides in the interpretation of abnormal test results in otherwise healthy subjects due to use of herbal remedies. Chapters focus on interactions between herbals and pharmaceuticals, sources of contamination in herbal supplements, and analytical techniques used in the investigation of herbal remedies.

Author Biography

Amitava Dasgupta is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and the director of clinical chemistry, toxicology, and point of care testing at the Memorial Hermann Hospital, the main teaching hospital of the medical school. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry and a prolific author and editor. Catherine A. Hammett-Stabler is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the Director of the Core Laboratory of the McLendon Clinical Laboratories, UNC Health Care. Dr. Hammett-Stabler has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Overview

An Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Relatively Safe herbal Remedies

Risk of Toxicity Associated with Unregulated Herbal Products

Effects of Herbal Remedies on Specific Organ Systems

Herbal Remedies with Immunomodulatory Effects

Kelp and Abnormal Thyroid Functions

Herbal Medications and the Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abnormal Liver Function Tests Due to the Use of Hepatotoxic Herbals

Homeopathic Medicine: Principle, Efficacy and Toxicity

Common Indian Ayurvedic Medicines and Interactions with Western Medicines

Tradition and Prospective of Arab and Islamic Herbal Medicine

Licorice and Laboratory Tests

Drug Interactions

Drug Interactions with St. John's Wort

Drug-Herb Interactions in Patients with HIV/AIDS

Interactions between Fruit Juices and Therapeutic Drugs: Impact on Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Drug interactions with Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba

Drug Interactions with Garlic and Ginger Supplements

Contamination

Heavy Metal Toxicity and Herbal Remedies

Contamination of Herbal Remedies with Western Drugs: Role of Clinical Laboratory

Beyond Herbals: Common Plant Poisonings

Analytical implications

Interferences of Herbal Remedies with Immunoassays for Therapeutic Drugs

Role of Laboratory in Detecting Plant Poisoning

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.