Natural Medicines Newsletter Archives
Released Issues
2013; Volume 3
Issue 48: Question: How does the use of phenytoin (Dilantin) decrease the concentration of vitamin D?
Issue 40: Question: How can ginkgo cause seizures and possibly even death?
Issue 36: Question: What are the most common proposed mechanisms of action for Ginkgo?
Issue 32: Question: Part 2: What are some common herbal or natural products that should be avoided while breastfeeding?
Issue 28: Question: Part 1: What are some common herbal or natural products that should be avoided while breastfeeding?
Issue 24: Question: Does the use of sunscreen prevent the activation of vitamin D supplements and their ability to increase calcium absorption?
Issue 20: Question: Are there any outcome studies related to cardiovascular disease with the use of red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) for its lipid lowering properties?
Issue 16: Question: How can the use of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) supplements prevent or treat neuropathy?
Issue 12: Question: Why must alcoholics with altered mental status receive intravenous vitamin B1 (thiamin) before any glucose infusions are started?
Issue 8: Question: Why do alcoholic patients with vitamin B1 (thiamin) deficiency require the use parenteral instead of oral thiamin replacement therapy?
Issue 4: Question: How effective is red yeast rice (or Xuezhikang) at decreasing cholesterol and lipid parameters?
2010; Volume 2
Issue 48: Question: What cellular or biochemical reactions require the presence of vitamin B1 (Thiamin)?
Issue 44: Question: How does red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus rice) decrease cholesterol levels and possibly the risk for atherosclerosis?
Issue 40: Question: How can the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole cause vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency and thereby increase the risk for macrocytic anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, and/or neuropathy?
Issue 36: Question: What medications are known to decrease the levels of vitamin B12 in the body and thus put certain patients at risk for developing macrocytic anemia and/or possible neuropathy?
Issue 32: Question: What medical indications or conditions warrant the use of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) supplementation?
Issue 28: Question: What physiological reasons other than hemoglobin synthesis for red blood cells do patients require the proper amount of vitamin B12?
Issue 24: Question: What other factors are necessary for the efficient absorption of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in the gastrointestinal tract other than intrinsic factor?
Issue 20: Question: Is the folic acid found in dietary supplements the active form used by the body for DNA and RNA synthesis and erythropoiesis?
Issue 16: Question: What is the mechanism by which St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) causes a significant decrease in cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) concentrations?
Issue 12: Question: Why should patients receiving cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) for the prevention of kidney organ transplantation rejection not take St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)?
Issue 8: Question: Which Vietnamese herbs or natural medicines are known to be inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and potentially useful for treating hyperuricemia or gout?
Issue 4: Question: Which Chinese and Indian herbs or natural medicines are known to inhibit xanthine oxidase and are potentially useful for treating hyperuricemia or gout?
2009; Volume 1
Issue 48: Question: Which North and South American (Brazil, Chile, Puerto Rico) herbs or natural medicines are known to be inhibitors of xanthine oxidase?
Issue 47: Question: Which North American herbs or natural medicines are known to be inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and possibly useful for the treatment of hyperuricemia or gout?
Issue 46: Question: How can Chrysanthemum flower (Chrysanthemum morifolium) taken along with azathioprine (Imuran®, Azasan®) potentially increase the risk for bone marrow toxicity or suppression?
Issue 45: Question: What Indonesian herbal and natural medicines are known to inhibit the cytochrome P450 (CYP2D6) enzyme?
Issue 44: Question: Does the inhibition of platelet aggregation by fish oil supplements (omega-3 fatty acids; EPA, DHA, Lovaza) affect the patient's actual risk for bleeding?
Issue 43: Question: How does fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids; EPA; DHA or Lovaza) potentially increase the risk for bleeding or affect platelet aggregation?
Issue 42: Question: Why should patients with active liver disease (such as cirrhosis, hepatitis and/or fatty liver disease) not take supplements containing kava extract (Piper methysticum)?
Issue 41: Question: What is the mechanism by which licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) causes swelling or edema?
Issue 40: Question: Why should the herbal or natural medicine Cat's Claw not be taken during pregnancy?
Issue 39: Question: What are some common herbal or natural medicines that have antiplatelet properties or increase the risk for bleeding?
Issue 38: Question: What are some commonly used herbal or natural medicines that interact with warfarin (Coumadin®; Jantoven®) and cause changes in the INR?
Issue 37: Question: What herbal or natural medicines are known to be inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, thereby increasing the risk for causing clinically relevant drug interactions with many medications?
Issue 36: Question: Why should patients not take kava (Piper methysticum) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) supplements together, especially if they are already taking a benzodiazepine?
Issue 35: Question: Which herbs from Australia can inhibit the function of xanthine oxidase and could be used for the treatment of chronic hyperuricemia or gout?
Issue 34: Question: What are some common Chinese herbal medicines used in the treatment of schizophrenia?
Issue 33: Question: Is St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) effective in the treatment of major depression?
Issue 32: Question: Is kava (Piper methysticum) safe and effective for the treatment of anxiety disorders?
Issue 31: Question: Are there any data that support the hypothesis that antioxidant supplements have an influence on mortality?
Issue 30: Question: Do fish oil (omega-3 fatty acid) supplements contain mercury?
Issue 29: Question: What are the criteria for the FDA to remove an herbal or natural medicine from the market in the United States (U.S.)?
Issue 28: Question: What is the mechanism of action by which Misai kucing or Java Tea (Orthosiphon stamineus Benth) decreases serum uric acid levels in patients with gout?
Issue 27: Question: What is the mechanism of action by which Misai kucing or Java Tea (Orthosiphon stamineus Benth) claims to cause diuresis or act as diuretic?
Issue 26: Question: What is a nutraceutical and what are some examples of products on the market?
Issue 25: Question: What are the top 10 most common herbs or natural medicines used by patients?
Issue 24: Question: What is the mechanism by which melatonin supplementation works as an antioxidant and prevents free radical damage?
Issue 23: Question: Is melatonin supplementation effective for the treatment of antipsychotic induced tardive dyskinesia (TD)?
Issue 22: Question: What is the mechanism of action of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in the treatment of depression?
Issue 21: Question: How can the use of kava (Piper methysticum) supplements increase the risk for CNS depression and/or coma in patients taking the benzodiazepine, alprazolam (Xanax®)?
Issue 20: Question: What is the mechanism by which licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) increases blood pressure and the risk for developing hypertension?
Issue 19: Question: What is the mechanism by which Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) can increase the blood concentrations of the protease inhibitors, atazanavir (Reyataz®), ritonavir (Norvir®), saquinavir, (Invirase®) used for the treatment of HIV?
Issue 18: Question: What is the mechanism by which the homeopathic medicine, Oscillococcinum (Anas barbariae hepatis et cordis extractum 200CK HPUS) is proposed to prevent or treat influenza (flu) viral infections?
Issue 17: Question: Is there any evidence that the homeopathic medicine, Oscillococcinum (Anas barbariae hepatis et cordis extractum 200CK HPUS) is effective at preventing or treating swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) viral infections?
Issue 16: Question: What does it mean when a product label says USP verified?
Issue 15: Question: What is the mechanism by which coenzyme Q10 supplementation treats statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) induced myopathy (myalgia (muscle pain), myositis (muscle breakdown) or rhabdomyolysis)?
Issue 14: Question: Part 2: If the primary mechanism for pain relief is not substance P depletion, as commonly thought, then what is the mechanism by which continued use of topical capsaicin results in pain relief and when does this relief normally begin?
Issue 13: Question: Part 1: What is the mechanism by which topical capsaicin initially causes pain (a burning or stinging type of feeling) and possibly mild redness and swelling when being used for chronic pain management?
Issue 12: Question: What omega-3 fatty acids are traditionally found in fish oil supplements and how does knowing this impact dosing in clinical practice?
Issue 11: Question: Why are natural or herbal medicines not regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) when many have mechanisms of action similar to prescription medications?
Issue 10: Question: Part 2: In patients with hypertension, are the reductions in blood pressure seen with the use of garlic (Allium sativum) clinically relevant?
Issue 9: Question: Part 1: How does garlic (Allium sativum) lower blood pressure in patients wanting to treat their hypertension with natural medicines?
Issue 8: Question: My patient wants to treat their diabetes naturally with Goat's Rue or French Lilac. How do these natural medicines work to treat diabetes and are there any safety concerns?
Issue 7: Question: How does the herb valerian (Valeriana officinalis) work to treat insomnia?
Issue 6: Question: Is Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) protective of hepatocytes (liver cells) in patients with active or chronic liver disease and if so, how does it work?
Issue 5: Question: My patient is asking if they can take vitamin A supplements to improve eye sight. How can vitamin A improve eye sight and is it safe?
Issue 4: Question: How does St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) decrease drug concentrations of antiretroviral medications thereby causing a loss of viral control in HIV patients?
Issue 3: Question: How does saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) work to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and is there any evidence to support its use?
Issue 2: Question: Is the active form of vitamin D in multivitamins or in calcium/vitamin D found in over the counter supplements the type that can increase absorption of calcium from the intestine?
Issue 1: Question: Why should healthcare providers learn the pharmacology of natural or herbal medicines?
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