herbal medicine Flashcards
what are popular herbal medicines for certain treatment (e.g. St. John’s Wort, Saw Plametto, Ginko Bilboa)
St. John’s Wort - Treatment of Depression
Saw Plametto–Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)
Ginko Biloba-Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Dementia
Where is St. John’s Wort from? and how has it been used?
used for healing and psychological properties. SEEMS TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR DEPRESSION TREATMENT.
[St. John’s Wort extract was better than placebo for Depression IN A STUDY.
FOR MANY OF THESE, THEY SEEM TO BE EFFECTIVE BUT WE DON’T KNOW THE IMPACTS OF THE DRUG ON OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY, WE DON’T KNOW THE TOXIC DOSE.
ST. JOHN’S WORT ROOT EXTRACT TREATMENT WAS COMPARABLE TO TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANT IN MILD TO MODERATE DEPRESSION.
What has kava been used for?
Part used: Root
widely used by the Polynesians on ceremonial occasions/social drink
grown commercially across pacific islands; no longer found in wild
“calming relaxing effect without altering cognitive function”
ANTIANXIETY AGENT
What is black cohosh used for?
Black Cohosh for menopausal symptoms?
Reduces LH levels?
5 controlled studies show efficacy but none were double-blinded
NOT A LOT OF BACKGROUND STUDY INFOR FOR THIS.
What are some of the adverse effects from herbs?
Types of adverse effects from herbs
- classic plant poisoning
e.g.. anticholinergic and other synaptic-blocking alkaloids; cyanogenic and cardiac glycosides; hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and neurotoxic constituents; hemolytic agents; photosensitive agents
- heavy metal adulteration
- mycotoxin contamination
- idiosyncratic reactions
- plant-drug interactions
- deaths from substitution
70 cases of progressive interstitial fibrosis of the kidney identified in Belgium related to consumption of a slimming regime
30 with terminal renal failure
Substitution of S. tetrandra (Mandarin name: hang fang ji) by Aristolochia fangchi (containing aristolochic acid) confirmed
- Peter Schlendorf dies from “Ultimate Xphoria”
Ma Huang, containing ephedra alkaloids
- prescription drugs found in some Chinese herbal products
what’s the problem with standardization?
whole plant, extracts, tinctures
trend is to standardize to some marker component
no independent body is checking
source is critical
standardized extracts are not regulated in North America
What should pharmacists know ?
Herbal remedies are big business
Efficacy is established for hardly a handful
for most-research is lacking, however, big claims are made!!!
most products lack Pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic data - “lack evidence based therapy (medicine)!!!!
most herbals are safe (a few are dangerous); some interactions with drugs
many herbals are now standardized but who is checking?
