Contraindications and Drug interactions of St John's Wort

Contraindications

1) Do not use this herb during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and arbortifacient effects.

2) Do not combine use of this herb with therapeutic ultraviolet light or solarium therapy, as the hypericin content increases photosensitivity to UVA.

3) Do not use this herb for severe depression or combine it with any anti-depressant medication.

4) Do not use this herb with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) as they may be potentiated.

5) Do not combine this herb with alcohol or resperine, as an extract from this herb is known to enhance the sleeping time from narcotic effects of alcohol and antagonise the effects of resperpine.

6) Do not use this herb where there is chronic liver or kidney disease, as these organs appear unable to detoxify a build-up of hypericin.

7) Do not use this herb during pregnancy or while breast feeding.

8) Do not combine this herb with amino acid supplements.

9) Do not use this herb where there is oestrogen driven cancer of the reproductive system.

10) Do not combine this herb with ANY prescribed or self administered medication, as this herb has the potential to alter the rate at which many drugs are metabolised.

11) Do not combine this herb with the herb Yohimbe , which also contains Monoamine oxidase.

12) The MPA (Medicine Products Agency - the pharmaceutcal regulator) has issued new warnigs regarding St.John's wort EXTRACT noting that it is known to ccounteract the effect of certain drugs, including hormone-based contraceptives, HIV medicines, blood thickening drugs, anf cyclosporine, a drug used to prevent rejection of organ transplants. Swedish health experts said that the herbal extract containedd a substance called hyperfourin, which made the liver work more efficiently, helping it break down the pharmaceutical chemicals.

13) Do not combine this herb with any medication to control epilepsy.

14) Do not combine this herb with the asthma medication Theophylline.

15) Do not combine this herb with migraine control medication.

16) Do not combine this herb with Warfarin or Heparin.

17) Do not combine this herb with any treatment for HIV

18) The BHMA recommends the following wording on all permanent labels of St.John's wort products.

'Before taking this product please check with your Doctor or Pharmacist if you are taking any prescribed medicines, as St.John?s wort may affect the way they work'.

NOTE: For further information regarding the safety of this herb, go to the EHPA website for Michael MacIntyres articles.

The information contained in these pages is an indication of possible contraindications, but if you are at all concerned about any herb and its suitability for personal use please contact a herbal practitioner in your area or contact us.

via herbs-hands-healing.co.uk