Natural products do not always means safe, especially when it comes to herbal supplements as per the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

In today’s times, herbal products (including supplements) are considered to be safe options. But the underlying fact is that even a few herbal supplements can result in life-endangering conditions or lethal interactions with medications.

From News-Medical.Net:

St. John’s wort: This supplement can greatly increase or decrease the potency of many medications and cause serious side effects. Patients who take antidepressants, anti-blood-clotting drugs, certain asthma drugs, immune-suppressing medications or steroids should probably avoid St. John’s wort.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e): This can cause serious side effects when taken with antidepressant medications that affect serotonin.

Garlic, ginseng, ginger and feverfew: Patients who take anti-clotting medications such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin) and clopidogrel (Plavix) should avoid these supplements. They may increase the risk of bleeding. Supplements chondroitin and glucosamine also may interfere with warfarin.

Ginkgo: Ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking anti-clotting medications. Ginkgo can counteract the blood pressure-lowering benefits of thiazide diuretic drugs. It also can interfere with anti-seizure medications.

Kava: Kava is a sedative herb and is associated with serious liver problems, even when taken for a short time. Many medications, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, pose a risk of liver damage. Taking kava may increase the risk of liver problems even more.

It is always suggested that any one keen to take on herbal supplements must seek a prior and qualified medical advice to understand the pros and cons. There may also be times when a supplement needs to be discontinued 2-3 weeks before specific surgical procedures as it can affect blood clotting, blood pressure control, and response to sedation.