Herbals of the Month

 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale):
    • Vses / Indications
        - Antiemetic (including pregnancy)
        - Motion Sickness
        - Antiinflammatory
        - Indigestion / Heartburn

    • Dose
        - 250 mg 3 times a day with food standardized to contain 4%    
          volatile or 5% total pungent compounds (6-gingerol & 6-shogaol)
          per dose.

• Contraindications
        - None yet identified
        - Generally accepted as safe in pregnancy / lactation - no adequate
          studies.

• Interactions
        - Theoretically increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin -
           contact your physician before taking.

• Adverse Effects
        - Excessive amounts may cause CNS depression & may interfere
          with cardiac function or anticoangulant activity.
        - No reports of severe toxicity have been reported.

 

Ginkgo (Ginkgo bilboa):

   • Vses / Indications
       - Dementia        - Anxiety / Stress
       - Asthma           - Cerebral insufficiency        - Raynaud disease

 

    • Dose
        - 40-80 mg 3 times a day standardized to containe 24-27% ginkgo
          flavone flycosides & 6-7% triterpenes per dose.

• Contraindications
        - None yet identified
        - Avoid use during pregnancy / lactation - no information regarding
          safety / efficacy.

• Interactions
        - Increased risk of bleeding with aspirin, ibuprofen, & warfarin
        - Increased sedation with trazodone
        - May increase plasma concentrations of nifedipine
        - May decrease plasma concentrations of omeprazole
        - May increase the effectiveness and decrease the extrapyramidal
          side effects of haloperidol

• Adverse Effects
        - Rare severe side effects
        - Headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, GI & dermatological    
          reactions