Herbs G-M:
Actions, Interactions, Contraindications

Garlic (Allium Sativum)

Actions: anthelmintic, antiviral, antibacterial, antimycotic, anti-platelet

Uses: Reduces high blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, enhances circulation, stimulates immune function, inhibits platelet aggregation, promotes vasodilation

Active constituents: alliin, allicin

Dosage: One fresh clove 1-2 times daily. More for cholesterol lowering or antihypertensive effects.

Adverse reactions: Breath odor, body odor, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May alter intestinal flora. Topically, garlic can cause contact dermatitis or burns.

Contraindications:Limit to typical food quantities during pregnancy and lactation, until safety of therapeutic dosages has been demonstrated.

Drug interactions: There is a relative contraindication with anticoagulants. Theoretically, garlic may potentiate antihypertensives, or increase effects of hypoglycemic drugs.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Medicinal part: root

Actions: Antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, immune system stimulation, inatropic, antithrombic.

Uses: Motion sickness, colic, dyspepsia, post-surgical nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis, discontinuing SSRI drug therapy. Topically, fresh ginger juice is used for treating burns.

Active constituent: Oleoresin (composed of phenols -- such as gingerols, shogaols) and volatile oils (such as sesquiterpenes,and monoterpenes) is used as an ingredient in digestive, laxative, antitussive, antiflatulent, and antacid preparations.

Dosage: 2-4 grams per day cut rhizome or dried extract. Antiemesis:  .5 - 2 grams/day   For morning sickness: 250 mg up to 4 X day.  Hyperemesis gravidarium: 1 gram/day for 4 days.  Motion sickness: 1 gram 30 minutes before travel.  Additional .5-1 gram as needed every 4 hours  Postoperative nausea:    .5 - 2 grams/day  Rhumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis -- 1-2 grams/day

Adverse reactions: Heartburn or dermatitis. Large overdoses can cause CNS depression and cardiac arrhythmias.

Contraindications:Avoid in patients with gallstones, until it is determined that ginger will not aggravate symptoms. Limit to typical food quantities during pregnancy and lactation except as noted above.

Drug interactions: Theoretically, ginger may increase the effects of anticoagulants, antihypertensives, hypoglycemic drugs, barbituates.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Actions:

Uses: memory impairment; concentration difficulties; depression from organic brain disease; blood thinner; attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder*

Active constituents:flavoinoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids

Dosage:typical: 120 mg/d 240 mg/d for Alzheimer’s

Adverse reactions:Low toxicity. Spontaneous subdural hematomas; bleeding into anterior chamber of the eye when used in combination with other platelet inhibitors, such as aspirin.

Interactions:Hypothetical Interaction with MAO inhibitors (antidepressants) at high doses. If patient ingests foods with a high concentration of tyramine (cheese & red wine) or sypathomimetics, there is a remote possibility of hypertensive crisis.

Contraindications: Concommitant use of blood thinners. Note: Preoperative protocol: Stop use 1-2 weeks prior to surgery.

Goldenseal(Hydrastis canadensis)

Actions: antiseptic, antibiotic, antifungal,

Uses: Mucous membrane infections caused by bacteria, fungus, and protozoa. Can successfully treat diarrhea caused by E. Coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Klebsiella, and Cholera. Berberine inhibits or kills Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Chlamydia, Pseudomonas, Neisseria. Also inhibits the growth of Giardia and Trichomonas. Was as effective as metronidazole (Flagyl) against giardiasis.

Active constituents: alkaloids (hydrastine, berberine)

Dosage: Travelers diarrhea - 500-1000 mg capsule (root) 3 X dayStandardized extract (5% hydrastine) 250-500 mg 3 X day

Local antiseptic: 1 tsp. powder steeped in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes. Swish in mouth or gargle for mouth or throat sores.

Adverse reactions: Nontoxic at normal theurapeutic doses. Higher does can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and CNS stimulation. Excessive doses of hydrastine can cause hypertension, convulsons and death from respiratory failure.

Contraindications: Pregnancy, breast feeding, hypertension

Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)

Actions: Acts on the myocardium by increasing force of contraction, lengthening the refractory period, reduces peripheral vascular resistance. Increases coronary blood flow due to vasodilation. Also has antibacterial, and analgesic effects. May lower lipid levels.

Uses:Hypertension, arrhythmias, heart failure, angina.

Active constituents:flavoinoids, procyanidins, vitexin, rutin, and hyperoside

Dosage:150 mg capsules, 3 X day, standardized to .3 % vitexin.

Adverse reactions:Nausea, gastrointestinal complaints, fatigue, sweating, rash on hands, palpitations, sleeplessness, and agitation when used in therapeutic doses.

Contraindications: Avoid concomitant use of other cardiac glycosides – Black hellabore, Hedge mustard, Figwort, Lilly of the valley roots, Motherwort, Pleurisy root – which may increase risk of toxicity. Avoid concomitant use of other cardioactive herbs – Calamus, Coltsfoot, Devil’s Claw, Mistletoe, Fenugreek, Fumitory, Ginger, Panax ginseng, White horehound, Mate, Parsley, Shepard’s purse, and Wild carrot – due to unpredictability of effects. May potentiate or interfere with conventional drug therapy for heart failure, hypertension, angina or arrhythmias.

Horse Chestnut extract(Aesculus hippocastanum)

Actions:Aescin reduces the permeability of capillary membranes, reducing edema

Uses:Leg swelling, and pain due to varicose veins; arthritis and rheumatism.

Active constituents:triterpenoid saponin glycosides called aescin. Whole seeds also contain the toxic glycoside called esculin or aesculin.

Dosage:250 mg. 2 X day, standarized to 20% triterpene glycosides

Adverse reactions: Caution! Whole horse chestnut seeds are toxic and classified as unsafe by the FDA. Use properly prepared horse chestnut seed extract, which has had the toxic components removed. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle twitching, weakness, vomiting diarrhea, dilated pupils, paralysis and stupor. Children have died from eating the seeds. Allergy and anaphylaxis have occurred with I V administration.

Contraindications:Hepatic or renal impairment. Pregnant women should ask their physicians. Aescin binds to plasma proteins and may interfere with the binding of other drugs.

Kava kava(Piper methysticum)

Actions: anxiolytic, analgesic, muscle relaxant, sedative, anticonvulsant, antifungal

Uses: Anxiety, muscle tension, muscle spasm, headaches, insomnia, restlessness. May be neuroprotective following stroke.

Active constituents: kava-lactones, dihydromethysticin (counters the effects of strychnine) Constituents are not opiates and do not act through opiate receptors.

Dosage: Safe therapeutic dosage range 100-300 mg. Standardized extract: 100 mg 2-3 X day (30-70% kavalactones)   tincture (dried 1:3) 4-12 ml daily

Adverse reactions: Regular use can cause a scaly skin disorder: dry flaky skin, reddened eyes, yellow discoloration of skin, hair and nails. Serious skin reactions may occur after 2-3 weeks of regular use. May cause a lack of coordination in skeletal muscles. May dilate pupils and effect vision. High doses lead to muscle weakness.  Caution!  Like most other mood altering substances Kava Kava can be addicting, and long term regular use may damage the liver.

Contraindications: Pregnancy, endogenous depression. Do not combine with alcohol, tranquilizers, or sleeping pills.. May decrease efficacy of levodopa. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while using.

Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)

Actions: Sedative, antiflatulent

Uses: Restlessness, sleeplessness.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Actions: Anti-anxiety, sedative, antispasmodic, digestive.

Uses:Helps heal and prevent herpes outbreaks. Relieves stress, anxiety and depression, and insomnia. Treats digestive problems. Eases muscle spasms and menstrual cramps. Repels mosquitos and eases itching of insect bites.

Active constituents: bioflavonoids, quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, tannins, terpenes (including citronellal.)

Dosage:Tea: 2 tsp chopped leaves / cup. Steep 10-20 minutes. Drink after meals and before bed. Tincture: ½ tsp in warm water, one to four times per day.

For herpes, apply topical cream five to 10 times daily.

Adverse reactions:The oils can cause heartburn.

Contraindications: Pregnant or nursing women should consult their health care practitioner before taking internally. Do not use if driving or operating moving machinery. Lemon balm may slow the function of your thyroid. It should not be used by anyone with hypothyroidism or on thyroid medication.

Drug interactions: Do not mix with tranquilizers or sedatives.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Actions: expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antinauseant, and anticonvulsant, laxative, weak phytoestrogen.

Uses:Low blood pressure, adrenal exhaustion or Addison’s disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers, allergies, arthritis, restores normal menstruation in hyperandrogenic women. Eases withdrawal from corticosteroids.

Active constituents: glycyrrhizin and its derivative glycyrrhetinic acid bind both glucocorticoid and mineral corticoid receptors

Dosage:Tea made with 1 tsp dried root, 2-3 cups daily.  Tincture: 1/4-1/2 tsp2-3 times daily. Commission E Monographs: Average daily dosage: 5-15 g of root = to 200-600 mg glycyrrhizin/  .5-1 g for catarrh of upper respiratory tract/ 1.5-3 g for gastric/duodenal ulcers

Adverse reactions: Safe only at low doses and for short periods of time (less than 6 weeks.) Can cause hyperaldosteronism: hypertension, sodium, chloride and water retention, edema, and hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias, ECG abnormalities and death. Has anti-estrogenic activity at high doses. It increases progesterone and other steroids and causes amenorrhea and hyperprolactemia, resulting in decreased libido and infertility.

Contraindications: High blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, cirrhosis, or pregnancy.

Drug Interactions: Can interact with diuretics, increasing potassium loss. Do not use with blood thinners, or laxatives. Affects insulin activity. Watch for hyperglycemia and hypokalemia in diabetics. Potentiates the effects of hydrocortisone.

Note: Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is not as toxic as regular, nor is it as effective. But it is effective for ulcer. DGL must be chewed before meals. The standard dosage for DGL is 2-4 380 mg. chewable tablets 20 minutes before meals.

Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica)

Medicinal parts: stems

Actions: Antirheumatic, broncodilator, decongestant, diuretic, sympathomimetic, hypertensive, sudorific (stimulates sweating.)

Uses: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus congestion.

Active constituents: ephedrine

Dosage: Tincture: 2.5 ml 3 X day/ decoction 600-1500 mg per cup, up to 3 cups daily. Children (over 13) 2mg/kg maximum. FDA recommends limiting intake to  8-24 mg. daily as ephedrine alkaloid.  In Germany, the recommended limit is 15-30 mg. single dose as ephedrine alkaloid.

Adverse reactions: Reports of whole herb Ephedra toxicity in therapeutic dose ranges are absent from medical literature. Caution!  There are many reports of adverse reactions -- up to and including death -- to the ephedrine extract.

Contraindications Children under 13. Hypertension. Heart arrhythmia. Sensitivity to stimulants.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

Medicinal parts: Seeds (fruit)

Actions:bitter, hepatoprotective, antihepatotoxic, hepatorestorative, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, anticarcinogenic (epithelial malignancies,) anti-ulcerogenic, and mmunomodulating.

Uses:Acute and chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis. Protects against drug toxicity: Including acetaminophen, butyrophenones, dilantin, ethanol, halothane and phenothiazines. Protects against carbon tetrachloride and exotoxins, such as pesticides, and Amanita phalloides (Deathcap mushroom.) Synergistic with Alpha lipoic acid and selenium.

Active constituents: flavonolignan complex: silymarin; flavonoids, including quercitin, kaempferol; linoleic acid, oleic acid, betaine, stigmasterol, sitosterol, mucilages; vitamins C, E, and K.

Dosage: Average daily dose - 12-15 g/ 200-400 mg of silymarin calculated as silibinin

Adverse reactions: Minimal toxicity. High doses may have slight laxative effect.

Contraindications:Transplant patients (May reduce immunosuppressant drugs due to increased hepatic clearance.)

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"The information presented here is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace an individualized consultation with a qualified health professional."