Secrets of herbal medicine: insidious herbs. On the compatibility of medicinal herbs, food products and chemical drugs Incompatibility of herbs in medicinal preparations

Narrated by Candidate of Medical Sciences, assistant at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Voronezh State University Evgenia Leonidovna Karpova.

- How do herbs interact with medications? What should not be combined?

The best studied interactions are with St. John's wort, a popular remedy for depression. St. John's wort is believed to have an adverse effect on blood thinning medications. It is undesirable to combine St. John's wort with drugs that reduce stomach acidity - omeprazole, lanzaprazole, as well as with the antibiotic cyclosporine.

This herb may interfere with the effects of anesthetic agents. Therefore, if you are taking it, it is very important to inform the anesthesiologist about this. In combination with antidepressants, St. John's wort can cause headache, dizziness, and confusion, especially in older people. This action is due to the fact that some components of St. John's wort can interfere with the process of processing drugs by the liver.

Valerian and other sedative herbs are not recommended to be taken together with first-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, tavegil and suprastin.

It is not advisable to combine senna leaves, buckthorn bark, and rhubarb rhizomes with drugs for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

Before operations, ginseng, garlic, ginger, and ginkgo biloba preparations are contraindicated, as they increase bleeding. They should not be combined with blood thinning drugs such as aspirin, chimes, warfarin.

When treating with immunosuppressants - azathioprine and others - it is not recommended to use medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements containing astragalus, echinacea, ginseng, maitake mushroom, Chinese lemongrass.

You cannot combine products from willow bark and wintergreen with the bronchodilator drug aminophylline. The effect of this medicine can also be changed by products containing tannin: green and black tea, bearberry, raspberry, oak bark, chamomile.

Licorice and echinacea cannot be combined with the drug against arrhythmia - cordarone. It is also better not to use licorice in conjunction with other popular antiarrhythmic drugs - verapamil and sotalol.

A large list of medicinal herbs is undesirable to use when treating the heart with digoxin. These are ginseng, eleutherococcus, foxglove, adonis, licorice, plantain, lily of the valley, motherwort, senna, St. John's wort, strophanthus, sea onion.

White willow bark can enhance the side effects of aspirin, diclofenac and other painkillers.

Echinacea does not combine with antifungal agents.

Blueberry and ginseng preparations should be used with caution by diabetics. These drugs lower blood sugar and, together with tablets, can reduce it below normal. On the other hand, if tablets are insufficiently effective, ginseng and blueberries can become allies in the fight against diabetes.

Sucralfate, Gastal, Maalox and other antacids that reduce acidity may reduce the effectiveness of herbal remedies.

However, the information currently available on the interactions between drugs and herbs is far from complete. The list of “good” and “bad” combinations is constantly being updated.

- Tell me, in what cases is the combination of herbs and chemical medications useful?

Medicinal herbs have been and remain excellent choleretic agents. Therefore, they are recommended for use in cases of biliary dyskinesia and acalculous cholecystitis. Herbal infusions are very helpful for flatulence and other “problems” in the intestines.

Herbs are good for coughs. Almost all expectorants contain herbal components of licorice, thermopsis and other herbs.

Preference should be given to herbal preparations for mild disorders of the nervous system - insomnia, increased irritability.

In addition, no chemical drugs have yet been created that are more effective in increasing resistance to stress than adaptogenic plants - Eleutherococcus and ginseng.

So in certain situations, herbs can and should be combined with traditional therapy.

- What needs to be done for herbal medicine to bring maximum benefit?

Treatment should be selected by a qualified specialist. Medicinal plants can be used to heal only when they are prescribed taking into account the concomitant diseases and characteristics of the patient. The correct dosage and dosage regimen are extremely important. Treatment from case to case, as a rule, does not give the desired effect.

Usually, before giving the patient appropriate recommendations, the herbalist is interested not only in his medical history, but also in the data of diagnostic studies.

It must be remembered that herbal preparations help only in cases of fairly mild health disorders. If you rely on herbs for some serious illnesses, you can “trigger” the disease, and it will be quite difficult to cope with it.

Collections of medicinal herbs or herbs used separately are recommended to be changed periodically. For different cases, the shift period ranges from 1 to 10 weeks. But on average, it is advisable to update the herbal treatment regimen every 3-4 weeks.

- Is it possible to collect herbs yourself? Or do you have to buy them at the pharmacy?

Medicinal plants may be useless and may not bring the expected effect. This happens if the basic rules for their collection, preparation, storage and preparation are violated.

Anyone going into the forest for herbs needs to know what the medicinal plants you want to collect look like. Many people know the healing properties of St. John's wort. But few people know that there are two types of this plant - St. John's wort and St. John's wort. Meanwhile, St. John's wort acts 10 times weaker than St. John's wort.

The time of collection is of great importance, not only the month or decade, but also the time of day, as well as temperature and humidity. For example, cornflower flowers, which have long been used in folk medicine to treat kidney diseases, should be collected only on a clear sunny day in dry weather, from about 10 to 11 am.

Therefore, before you start harvesting herbs, you need to study a lot of literature. Pharmacy products are more reliable.

-Who needs to be especially careful with herbs?

First of all, it is dangerous to start herbal medicine on your own if you are prone to allergic diseases. In Russia, every fifth person suffers from pollen allergy - hay fever. In the spring, such people experience a runny nose, lacrimation and other unpleasant symptoms.

If the plant is similar to an allergen, unwanted reactions may occur. When applied externally, they manifest themselves as skin redness, rashes, blisters, swelling and tumors. When used internally, there may even be a threat to life: swelling of the larynx, difficulty breathing, and increased body temperature.

To avoid these undesirable consequences, you should not immediately use the medicinal plant in large doses orally or apply ointments and powders prepared from it to a large area of ​​skin.

First you need to check how the body reacts to the plant. To do this, follow our algorithm.

In the same way, it is advisable to check each plant that is part of a multicomponent herbal collection. The plant that will cause an allergic reaction must be excluded from the collection. When testing medicinal herbs for suitability, it is advisable to have on hand medications that can quickly neutralize the allergic reaction that has occurred: tavegil, suprastin, diphenhydramine.

And, of course, it is extremely dangerous to use poisonous plants yourself. I recommend that everyone buy a herbal medicine guide, and if the herb is poisonous, do not use it without a doctor’s prescription.

How to avoid unwanted consequences when combining herbs and medications?

1. Tell your doctor about all herbs and supplements you take.
2. Consult a qualified herbalist.
3. Once you start herbal treatment, do not stop taking medications without consulting your doctor. Sudden withdrawal of medications for the treatment of heart disease is especially dangerous.
4. In many cases, the dose of chemicals when using medicinal plants can be reduced. Consult your doctor about your dose reduction plan.
5. Try to take medications and herbs at different times of the day to avoid unwanted “meetings”.

Olga MUBARAKSHINA

Dangerous combinations of medicinal herbs

Doctors usually prescribe us pills, but we take herbs on our own, without consulting specialists, thinking that they cannot cause harm to health. Therefore, we need to know the dangerous combinations of medicinal herbs and various drugs.

Herbal medicine is not harmful

Today, various dietary supplements based on medicinal herbs are becoming increasingly popular. You can buy them without a doctor’s prescription, and many of us prescribe them for ourselves, believing that they are not “chemicals,” but just “herbs.” However, the active ingredients in both are not fundamentally different from each other. Found in industrially produced drugs, roots and herbs, such substances are powerful weapons. Sometimes they can form dangerous combinations that can lead to the most unexpected reactions.

For example, an elderly person decides to start taking ginkgo biloba extract to prevent memory loss. At the same time, the doctor, who is not aware of this, prescribes acetylsalicylic acid for heart problems. If the patient takes both of these drugs sequentially, after a few months such experiments may end in a stroke...

To avoid this, you need to know and follow a few simple rules:

Tell your doctor about all the dietary supplements and herbs you take, since almost all of them have some side effects.

Play it safe and consult a herbalist. These specialists know more about the properties of medicinal herbs than ordinary doctors.

Drink herbs and medications separately, at different times of the day, so that they do not form dangerous combinations that can harm your health.

We accept without mixing!

Echinacea. This plant has antiviral and antibacterial properties and is used for the prevention and treatment of influenza and ARVI, as well as to improve immune defense. Echinacea should not be taken together with antifungal medications; their combination is toxic to the liver. In addition, this herb should not be combined with drugs that suppress the immune system; it is also contraindicated in people with autoimmune diseases, tuberculosis and AIDS.

Valerian root. As you know, this remedy is widely used to overcome mild forms of anxiety and to improve sleep. Valerian root preparations should not be mixed with other anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, since their effects are cumulative and can lead to unpredictable results. In addition, it is not recommended to combine valerian root and other sedative herbs and antihistamines.

Ginkgo biloba. This ancient Chinese plant helps improve blood circulation and blood supply to the brain, and also helps improve memory and attention. Ginkgo cannot be combined with anticoagulants, that is, substances that thin the blood. Such dangerous combinations are fraught with excessive blood thinning, bleeding and hemorrhage. It is undesirable to use these medicinal herbs with MAO inhibitor drugs to get rid of depression.

St. John's wort. If in our country this plant is used to treat a variety of diseases, then in Western countries it is known primarily as a remedy for nervous tension and depression, which is part of sedatives. You should not take St. John's wort together with certain antibiotics that cause photosensitivity, as this will worsen the effect. In addition, people taking antidepressants should not drink St. John's wort. These drugs affect serotonin levels, and combining their effects with medicinal herbs leads to unpredictable consequences. In addition, without consulting a doctor, you should not combine St. John's wort and anticonvulsants, as they can interact with each other. There is also evidence that this plant may reduce the effectiveness of birth control medications and some asthma medications.

Ginseng. It is a popular herbal remedy used to improve tone. Since it thins the blood, you should not combine it with antidiabetic, antihypertensive and heart medications. The combination of ginseng with MAO inhibitors sometimes leads to manic psychosis, and the combination with caffeine preparations and coffee can cause irritability.

Ephedra. This plant is used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases - from asthma to colds. Its main active ingredient, called ephedrine, is contained in many cold remedies and weight loss medications. Ephedra is not recommended for use with hyper- and antihypertensive drugs, as it can increase blood pressure and heart rate. In addition, this medicinal herb should not be taken by people who are taking medications to regulate blood sugar levels. Ephedra neutralizes their effect. Its combination with MAO inhibitors is also dangerous, as it leads to an increase in blood pressure. The plant should not be taken with certain heart medications to avoid arrhythmia.

Pyrethrum. This remedy is used to prevent migraines. You should not drink it before or after surgery, as it can cause severe bleeding.

Licorice. Often used for ARVI, colds, peptic ulcers, and to ease menopause. Those taking antidiabetic medications should not take licorice or its syrup, as the plant may interfere with the action of the medications. In addition, licorice intake leads to calcium depletion in the body and cardiac arrhythmia, especially in people who take certain cardiac medications.

CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR TAKEN MEDICINAL HERBS

In some cases, beneficial medicinal herbs can be harmful and even dangerous to health. There are a number of diseases and conditions where thoughtless use of medicinal plants can lead to a number of undesirable consequences. Therefore, it is important to know the contraindications for taking medicinal herbs so as not to harm your body or the health of loved ones. These tips will help those who prefer alternative medicine to conventional medicine.

Absolutely all herbs have a number of indications, as well as contraindications for use. For example, pregnant women and women undergoing menopause should not use tinctures and decoctions of barberry. Among the medicinal herbs for those who suffer from gastritis, other gastric diseases, ulcers, and diseases of the duodenum, calamus and grapes are not recommended. The acids contained in these plants irritate the stomach lining, leading to even more serious problems. For gastritis with a high level of acidity, it is also not recommended to take tinctures or decoctions of calamus. Contraindications for taking this plant are associated with the components contained in its composition, which further contribute to an increase in the level of hydrochloric acid secretion.

Frequent use black chokeberry can provoke blood thickening, and this is fraught with thrombosis and blockage of veins and blood vessels. Viburnum, on the contrary, causes blood incoagulability. Carrot lovers should know that this vegetable is not only considered a medicinal plant, but may also have some contraindications for consumption. Its consumption in excessive quantities can lead to yellowing of the skin. In addition, root crops that are located not underground, but above its surface, can be dangerous. Typically, such parts are green in color and can be poisonous and negatively affect the functioning of the heart.

Calendula flowers, which are so often used to prepare tinctures and decoctions, may also be unsafe, especially if the correct dosage is not followed. Not everyone knows that fresh flowers are almost ten times stronger than dried ones. Concerning fireweed, then an overdose of this plant threatens epilepsy.

Not everyone knows that even people have contraindications for taking onions. For example, tincture from it cannot be used for heart diseases and liver and kidney diseases.

Sagebrush- a plant that requires extreme caution when taken. It is taken orally only if the dosage is correctly calculated. Long-term use is contraindicated, otherwise hallucinations, mental disorders, and convulsions are possible. You should not use wormwood if you are pregnant or have an ulcer.

Beet juice, so beneficial, according to most of us, can turn out to be real poison if taken incorrectly. Freshly squeezed juice can cause severe vasospasm, so leave it for at least three hours before drinking. During this time, harmful components evaporate from the juice, and the juice becomes extremely beneficial.

Sweet clover- one of the most popular medicinal herbs, which is often used to prepare tinctures, decoctions and medicinal compositions. Contraindications for taking this plant are disorders of the central nervous system, migraines, and changes in blood pressure.

Among medicinal herbs, popularity has also gained nettle. Contraindications for taking nettle are increased blood clotting, atherosclerosis, cysts and tumor formations, polyps, hypertension, diseases of the uterus and inflammatory processes in the appendages.

The use of horsetail is contraindicated for kidney diseases and even the slightest impairment of their function. Rosehip is not recommended for those who have dental problems: the acids contained in large quantities in its berries destroy tooth enamel. After taking it, you should rinse your mouth with water. In addition, absolute contraindications for taking rosehip decoctions are endocarditis, thrombophlebitis, and heart failure.

Thyme is not used for atherosclerosis and cardiosclerosis, and for diseases of the cerebral vessels. Contraindications are also atrial fibrillation, gastric ulcer, kidney and liver diseases, pre-infarction condition, rehabilitation period after a heart attack. Immortelle is not recommended for hypertensive patients. Forest or field mint leads to reproductive dysfunction in men; it is not recommended to be given to children as a sedative.

Celandine is a plant that is considered more poisonous than beneficial. Roots, leaves, flowers and stems can be dangerous. It must be taken as a medicinal herb with extreme caution, observing the exact dosage. With prolonged use and incorrect dosage, vomiting, stool upset, breathing problems, and dizziness occur. Ramson is contraindicated for gastritis and gastric ulcers. Licorice is contraindicated for high blood pressure; it leads to fluid retention in the body. In addition, it causes sexual dysfunction, weakens libido, and slows down hair growth.

In general, both the above and any other types of medicinal herbs have their own contraindications for use. When using them for treatment, you must follow the correct dosage and know the characteristics of your body so as not to cause even more harm to your health.

Exist contraindications to the use of herbal medicines.

When preparing any herbal folk remedy for baby, it is necessary to reduce the dosage depending on his age:

0 – 3 years – dosage is reduced by 3-5 times;

3 – 7 years – dosage is reduced by 2 times;

7 – 14 years – the dosage is reduced by 1.5 times.

Most dangerous plants - hemlock, Veh poisonous(cicuta), wolf's face. These plants are generally not recommended for use in any preparations.

If used incorrectly, severe forms of poisoning can cause: belladonna, seeds henbane And Datura, buckthorn and even celandine. At home, it is better not to make infusions and decoctions from sophora japonica,thermopsis, nightshade, larkspur.

Apricot kernels You can consume no more than twenty kernels at a time, due to the high content of hydrocyanic acid in them;

Fruit chokeberry(aronia) are contraindicated for people with increased blood clotting;

Marsh rosemary extremely poisonous;

Cores cherries And plums contain hydrocyanic acid, so cherry and plum jam is not recommended to be stored for more than three years;

Immortelle contraindicated for people suffering from hypertension;

Valerian(roots) is not recommended for long-term use, since it has a negative effect on the digestive organs, and long-term use of valerian can cause headaches, nausea and heart problems;

Grape should not be used by people suffering from diabetes. And also, in large quantities it is contraindicated for hypertension;

Fruit juice grenade It is used only in diluted form, since the high acid content in pomegranate destroys tooth enamel. An overdose of the bark can cause convulsions, dizziness, blurred vision, and weakness;

Grass gray jaundice should not be taken in case of acute myocarditis and atherosclerosis;

Long-term use St. John's wort can cause dermatitis;

Wild strawberry contraindicated for gastritis with high acidity and ulcerative processes of the gastrointestinal tract;

Buckthorn brittle strictly contraindicated in the second half of pregnancy;

Use Schisandra chinensis harmful for hypertension and insomnia;

Nettle And corn silk Contraindicated for use by people with increased blood clotting;

Plantain contraindicated in case of increased gastric secretion;

Berries juniper Ordinary cannot be used for acute inflammation of the kidneys and during pregnancy;

Tincture onions contraindicated for people suffering from heart disease, as well as kidney disease;

Contraindicated for use flax-seed for cholecystitis and hepatitis;

Tansy Contraindicated for pregnant women and children under nine years of age;

Horseradish And radish strictly contraindicated for gastritis, kidney disease, liver disease, peptic ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract;

Fresh beet juice can contribute to strong heartbeat, therefore, before ingestion, it should sit for about two and a half hours;

Lilac– a rather poisonous plant and therefore its dosage must be strictly controlled;

Walnut, hazelnut(forest): when taking it, it is very important to observe the dosage, since a small excess can cause severe headaches in the frontal part;

Kidney tea removes a lot of fluid from the body, so you need to increase your fluid intake;

Undesirable use radish people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, since its juice increases the heart rate;

Bearberry, with prolonged use, it irritates the kidneys;

Persimmon contraindicated for obesity, as well as diabetes;

Garlic contraindicated for kidney inflammation and exacerbations of hemorrhoids;

After reception rosehip inside, you need to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water, because the acid contained in the rosehip infusion destroys tooth enamel;

Contraindicated for patients with high acidity lemons, oregano,pepper, caraway;

Patients with low acidity should not use dill,coriander And green tea;

Do not use if you have a heart attack or thrombophlebitis. basil, coriander, as they increase blood clotting.

* St. John's wort. This medicinal herb has an adverse effect on blood thinning medications. It is undesirable to combine St. John's wort with drugs that reduce stomach acidity - omeprazole, lanzaprazole, as well as with the antibiotic cyclosporine.

In combination with antidepressants - tazepam, seduxen, elenium and others - St. John's wort can cause headache, dizziness, confusion, especially in older people.

* Valerian and other sedative herbs are not recommended to be taken together with first-generation antiallergic drugs, such as diphenhydramine, tavegil and suprastin.

* It is not advisable to combine senna leaves, buckthorn bark, rhubarb rhizomes with drugs for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

* Before operations, ginseng, garlic, and ginger are contraindicated - they increase bleeding. They cannot be combined with blood thinning drugs, such as aspirin, chimes, warfarin.

* When treating with immunosuppressants - azathioprine and others - it is not recommended to use medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements containing astragalus, echinacea, ginseng, and Chinese lemongrass.

* You cannot combine willow bark and wintergreen products with the bronchodilator drug aminophylline. The effect of this medicine can also be changed by products containing tannin: green and black tea, bearberry, raspberry, oak bark, chamomile.

* Licorice and echinacea cannot be combined with the drug against arrhythmia - cordarone. It is also better not to use licorice with antiarrhythmic drugs such as verapamil and sotalol.

* When treating the heart with digoxin, it is undesirable to use ginseng, eleutherococcus, digitalis, adonis, licorice, plantain, lily of the valley, motherwort, senna, St. John's wort, and sea onion.

* White willow bark can enhance the side effects of aspirin, diclofenac and other painkillers.

*Echinacea does not combine with antifungals.

* Blueberry and ginseng preparations should be used with caution by diabetics. They lower blood sugar and, together with pills, can reduce it below normal.

* Sucralfate, Gastal, Maalox and other antacids that reduce acidity may reduce the effectiveness of herbal remedies.

Linden tea should not be drunk more than 7 days a month, and should not be combined with taking blood thinners. Don't drink a lot and not a strong decoction, because... Linden flowers contain phytohormones.
Chamomile tea should not be drunk by people with high blood sugar levels. And women should not overdo it with chamomile.

St. John's wort increases blood pressure, causes constipation, and reduces appetite. St. John's wort is contraindicated during pregnancy, gastritis, it should not be taken at elevated body temperatures, long-term use reduces sexual potency and can cause urticaria.
St. John's wort increases the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, so after drinking tea or herbal infusion, you should refrain from sunbathing. Beer, coffee, wine, chocolate, smoked or pickled foods, and yoghurt do not go well with St. John's wort. Cannot be combined with medications for hay fever or nasal drops; drugs are excluded.

Calendula is contraindicated during pregnancy, hypotension and diseases of the cardiovascular system accompanied by bradycardia. Calendula lowers blood pressure. If you are going to drink calendula tea, then brew it only, not combining it with other herbs or drugs/products that lower blood pressure.

Celandine:

According to medical research, the main properties of celandine are antispasmodic, choleretic and anti-inflammatory (bactericidal). Celandine alkaloids have the greatest pharmacological activity. For example, chelidonine gives a pronounced analgesic and calming effect. In addition, this alkaloid has an antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle organs and has hypotensive and bradycardic properties. Homochelidonine, another celandine alkaloid, on the contrary, gives an exciting-convulsive effect and exhibits local anesthetic activity. The alkaloid protopine reduces the reactivity of the autonomic nervous system and enhances smooth muscle tone.

Attention! When treating celandine, other herbs and medications are not used.

Contraindications and side effects of celandine
Celandine is very poisonous! It's no coincidence that livestock never eat it in the pasture. Chelidonine contained in celandine first causes depression in animals and then paralysis of the central nervous system, in which its action resembles morphine. For this reason, celandine should be used very carefully, used in small quantities or in combination with other plants. Celandine causes irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract and lowers blood pressure. Poisoning manifests itself in the form of severe thirst, heaviness in the head and stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and sometimes fainting and even hallucinations occur. This is explained by the fact that celandine juice contains a large amount of alkaloids. It is better not to use celandine in the treatment of small children, as well as pregnant and lactating women.

Due to its pronounced ability to cause seizures, it is not recommended to use celandine for people suffering from epilepsy. It is not recommended to use celandine preparations for persons suffering from serious mental disorders (psychosis). Contraindications are also bronchial asthma, angina pectoris, cardiac decompensation of degrees I - II, and neurological diseases.

You should avoid using celandine juice if it can come into contact with damaged areas of the skin. In such cases, it causes severe inflammation.

Valerian should not be taken by people prone to thrombosis and with increased blood clotting.
Hawthorn, mint, and motherwort are not recommended for people with low blood pressure.
Be careful with lemon balm. In large doses it is toxic.
Any medications containing belladonna should only be prescribed by a doctor!
Flaxseed cannot be used in dosages exceeding the permissible one, and storage conditions must not be violated, as you can get poisoned (with hydrocyanic acid)
Well, of course, people who suffer from allergies, especially to pollen, need to be especially careful. It’s even better for allergy sufferers to avoid herbal treatment altogether.

The possible negative effects of combining grapefruit juice and certain medications were first warned by Dr. Kelly Morris in an article published in 1997 in The Lancet. Three years later, specialists from one of the largest American research institutions (the Mayo Clinic) confirmed her doubts by discovering a dangerous increase in the concentration of cardiovascular drugs in the blood when they were simultaneously consumed with grapefruit juice.

A more detailed study appeared in December 2004 in The American Journal of Nursing. It, among other things, described a case of death due to the combination of grapefruit juice and lipid-lowering drugs. A certain patient had elevated cholesterol levels in the blood and a number of other risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. He was prescribed a drug that lowers blood cholesterol. Two months later, the patient moved from North America to Florida. The abundance of fruit and sunshine should have been good for him, but he soon developed muscle pain, weakness, ended up in intensive care and died from acute renal failure. During the debriefing, it turned out that the only thing that changed in the patient’s life after moving to the south was that he began to drink 2-3 glasses of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice every day.

In 2006, a group of scientists from the University of North Carolina led by Dr. Paul Watkins managed to identify the “pest.” It turned out to be a substance called furanocoumarin, which slows down the functioning of the cytochrome system. While the liver is “busy” disassembling grapefruit ingredients into spare parts, drugs circulate throughout the body, their concentration in the blood increases and reaches a dangerous level, when all the side effects appear at once. For example, during a study of the interaction of one of the antihypertensive drugs with grapefruit juice, scientists found an increase in the concentration of the drug in the blood by up to 230%!

The situation is so serious that the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) requires that all new drugs be tested for compatibility with grapefruit juice. No other citrus fruit, nor furanocoumarin-free grapefruit juice, have similar effects.

FORGET ABOUT GRAPEFRUIT JUICE (ESPECIALLY FRESH SQUEEZED! YOU HAVE TO IF YOU TAKE:

# anxiolytics: alprazolam, buspirone, midazolam, triazolam;
# antiarrhythmic: amiodarone, quinidine;
# antibiotics: clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin;
# antihistamines: fexofenadine;
# anticoagulants: warfarin;
# antizpileptic: carbamazepine;
# beta blockers: carvedilol;
# calcium channel blockers: diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil;
# hormonal preparations containing: cortisol, estradiol, methylprednisolone, progesterone, testosterone;
# immunosuppressants: cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus;
# hypolipidemic: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin;
# antidepressants: sertraline, fluvoxamine; xanthines; theophylline;
# drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: finasteride;
# opioid analgesics: alfentanil, fentanyl, sufentanil;
# antiviral: amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir;
# anthelmintics: albendazole;
# antifungal: itraconazole;
# antitussives: dextromethorphan;
# antitumor: cyclophosphamide, etoposide, cfosamide, tamoxifen, vinblastine, vincristine;
# repotenters: sildenafil, tadalafil.

========================

MINT.
As it turned out, it also has contraindications:
Mint has a noticeable effect on the cardiovascular system, which makes it possible to use it in the manufacture of drugs such as Valocordin or, for example, Corvalol, mint lowers blood pressure! And as you might guess, it is better not to take it for people suffering from low blood pressure.
We all probably remember (especially smokers) horror stories from childhood about menthol cigarettes and how they affect potency. So, it's true! Mint reduces male libido.

And also: Peppermint tea should not be given to children under 3 years of age. Mint is contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women and anyone undergoing homeopathic treatment. Combining green tea with mint can cause insomnia and irritability.

Among the benefits of mint:
Peppermint tincture helps relieve nausea and vomiting, improves digestion and increases appetite. Peppermint tincture also helps relieve excessive irritability and tension. It reduces increased heart rate.

Everything is good in moderation!

In contact with

Classmates

Most often in herbal medicine, not one, but several plants, that is, herbs, are used. They are a mixture of crushed (cut up or crushed into coarse powder) parts of various medicinal plants. This is the oldest and simplest form of using medicinal plants. You can make teas, infusions and decoctions from them. Other medicinal herbs may contain 20-25 or even 30 medicinal plants, selected in such a way as to have a comprehensive effect on the patient’s body (especially in the area of ​​inflammatory changes).

The inclusion of medicinal plants with different pharmacological properties in collections allows increasing their medicinal activity. However, the collections must be prepared competently, otherwise they may contain incompatible plants (neutralizing the healing effect of each other).

Compiling fees is a bit of an art. They should not contain mutually exclusive or random plants. It should be noted that for some doctors, some rare, overseas plants are especially attractive. When writing a recipe, they do not care about the fact that these ingredients are difficult, and sometimes simply impossible, to obtain. In the senseless pursuit of exotic medicinal plants, not only time and energy are lost, but the disease itself becomes advanced and difficult to treat. It is sad to encounter such cases. It’s especially bitter because they are not uncommon. Each of them undermines faith in the doctor, in his competence, and sincere desire to promote a speedy recovery.

It should be noted that in folk medicine, mixtures are compiled in such a way as to simultaneously stimulate several body functions. For example, to improve the removal of toxic metabolic products, plants that have a diaphoretic, diuretic and laxative effect can be introduced into the collections. Many of them include vitamin plants, which, along with herbs that stimulate excretion, help improve the function of tissues and organs and increase their vitality. Plants are also added to the preparations to improve their taste and smell.

When compiling a collection, select plants that are compatible both in terms of active substances (that is, there should not be incompatible or mutually exclusive ones among them) and in terms of therapeutic effect. So, for bronchitis with thick sputum, you should use plants that facilitate the secretion of secretions, that is, they act as an expectorant (for example, thyme). For dry bronchitis without sputum (or with little sputum production), plants containing saponins that stimulate secretion are indicated (primrose roots, anise, fennel, etc.). For severe coughs, use plants that contain a lot of mucus (marshmallow roots, mullein flowers). For emphysema and bronchiectasis, infusions containing essential oil plants (pine shoots, juniper cones, chamomile flowers, yarrow, etc.) are recommended, also containing tannins (cinquefoil rhizomes, knotweed, etc.), which have an astringent and anti-inflammatory effect .

If there are spastic conditions of the bronchi (for example, asthmatic bronchitis), then include in the collection plants that relax the bronchial muscles and increase the lumen of the bronchi. Use similar approaches when drawing up collections for the treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Thus, for spastic conditions of coronary vessels, hawthorn flowers and fruits have a good effect, and for atherosclerosis, garlic preparations.

In case of diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, urolithiasis, there is a need to increase daily diuresis (urine output), which can be easily achieved with the help of plants that have a diuretic effect (for example, essential oil plants - juniper, parsley, birch leaves, etc.) . Also use another group of plants that have an antiseptic effect on the urinary tract. This is a leaf of bearberry, lingonberry, etc.

As for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the possibilities of herbal medicine (plant treatment) are especially great. Herbs with astringent, anti-inflammatory pus (roots of cinquefoil, blueberries, bird cherry, chamomile, etc.), as well as containing bitter substances and essential oils and thereby stimulating the appetite, activating the secretion of the digestive organs, having carminative and antiputrefactive properties (root calamus and elecampane, wormwood grass, yarrow, fennel, cumin, oregano, parsley, etc.) will help you achieve success.

The use of plant materials containing mucus (marshmallow roots, mullein flowers, etc.) also gives good results in the treatment of inflammatory processes in the digestive tract.

When treating acute and chronic constipation, use plants containing a lot of fiber and pectin. These substances bind to water, swell, increase the contents of the intestine, activating its peristalsis. In addition, pectins absorb toxic products formed in the digestive tract and remove them from the body.

To treat diseases of the bile ducts, liver and liver-pain syndrome of athletes, use herbal preparations that enhance the secretion of bile, relieve spasms of the biliary tract and stop inflammatory processes in them (that is, they have choleretic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects). This effect is inherent in plants rich in essential oils (mint, basil, oregano, etc.), containing bitterness (dandelion, chicory) and other active substances.

In mild forms of diabetes, success can be achieved by including plants containing glycokinins, which have an insulin-like effect, in the collection.

In the same way, individual plants are selected and complex mixtures are compiled for the treatment and prevention of hypovitaminosis, metabolic disorders and other diseases.

When preparing the mixture according to the finished recipe, take each of the plants (pre-chopped) in accordance with the collection recipe, and then mix everything well.

How to use medicinal plants? They are rarely used in their unprocessed form (for example, in salads), more often from plants.

Fresh juice is the most preferred form of using medicinal plants. It contains the most complete complex of their active ingredients. Thus, juices are rich in organic acids, vitamins, fruit sugars, mineral salts, pectins, enzymes, phytoncides and other beneficial substances. The advantages of juices also include the fact that they do not contain table salt, proteins or fats. To obtain juice, well-washed fresh plants, fruits, vegetables, tubers are crushed and passed through a meat grinder. The resulting pulp is squeezed through a thick cloth, and the remainder is mixed with a small amount of boiled water and squeezed again. Juices are good to take to normalize the water-salt balance, for gastrointestinal diseases (during an exacerbation, the juice is mixed with a fresh decoction of oatmeal or rice), colds, etc.

However, obtaining juices from plants is sometimes associated with considerable difficulties. Therefore, as a rule, plants are dried, and then, as needed, appropriate preparations are prepared from them.

Powder

The simplest dosage form is powder, which is carefully crushed leaves, grass, fruits, bark, roots or rhizomes of plants. To obtain the powder, well-dried raw materials are ground in a mortar or coffee grinder. The powder is taken orally with a small amount of water or used to sprinkle on poorly healing ulcers, wounds, etc. The powder is prepared in cases where the active substances contained in dry plants are easily broken down and, therefore, such raw materials are of little use for the production of other dosage forms (for this reason, for example, powder is prepared from foxglove leaves). In medical practice, the powder is rarely used, but in everyday life it is used much more widely.

Pills

If plants contain potent and toxic substances, then tablets are prepared from them at pharmaceutical plants, which are a solid dosage form in which the active substances are strictly dosed.

Decoctions, infusions and teas are the most convenient and common form of using medicinal plants. They are prepared from pre-crushed medicinal plant materials (dry leaves and flowers are crushed to particles of no more than 5 mm, rhizomes, roots, bark and stems - to particles of no more than 3 mm, and fruits and seeds - no more than 0.5 mm). What to choose - tea, infusion or decoction - depends mainly on which parts of the plant will be used; so, bark, roots, rhizomes, woody stems of herbaceous plants, etc. They are difficult to swell, and their active substances are slowly extracted with water, so decoctions are usually prepared from them. Cold infusions are prepared from medicinal raw materials containing mucus (for example, marshmallow roots, quince seeds, coltsfoot leaves, etc.): pour water at room temperature and leave for 6-8 hours, then filter through gauze, folded in several rows.

The preparation of some mucous infusions has its own characteristics

Thus, it is better to prepare mucilage from flax seeds by pouring boiling water (in a ratio of 1:30) over them, not cold, and then shaking for 15 minutes, after which the mucilage infusion is filtered. This approach makes it possible to obtain a relatively sterile and more storage-stable drug. An infusion of salep mucus is prepared in the ratio of 1 g of salep powder per 1 ml of wine alcohol and 99 ml of water. Salep powder is poured into a large bottle, the entire portion is moistened with alcohol (if the powder is immediately poured with water, it sticks together, forming a difficult-to-extract lump), then poured with boiling water and, closing the bottle with a stopper, shake it vigorously for 10-12 minutes, after which the infusion is filtered through gauze folded in half. It turns out about 100 ml of thick and almost colorless mucus (it is not diluted with water). It is also not recommended to boil plants containing essential oils; tea is usually prepared from them - pour boiling water over them and infuse in a hermetically sealed container for 5-15 minutes (less commonly, an extract is obtained using cold water), strain and drink. Ingredients of crushed leaves and flowers plants are quite easily extracted with water when brewing (pouring) boiling water and infusing for 5-20 minutes (rarely longer). Then filter and drink.

Tea, infusions and decoctions are prepared in earthenware, porcelain or enamel dishes. To prepare them, the intended dose of crushed plant material is poured with boiling water (usually at the rate of 1-2 tablespoons per 1 glass of boiling water, more precisely, 10 or 20 parts of water per weight part of the raw material, that is, the ratio is 1:10 or 1:20 , less often the ratio of raw materials and water is 1:30 or 1:40). Then, if an infusion is being prepared, the container is closed and placed in a pan of boiling water. Leave for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally in this so-called water bath, then leave to cool slowly for 45 minutes, then filter - and the infusion is ready.

To obtain a decoction, crushed plant material is dipped into boiling water and boiled over low heat for 15-30 minutes (or kept in a water bath for 30 minutes with frequent stirring), then infused for 0.5-1 hour and filtered. You can also use this method: crushed parts of the medicinal plant are poured with boiled water at room temperature and left for 5-6 hours, after which they are boiled for 10-15 minutes or kept in a water bath for 30 minutes.

Note that decoctions of plants containing tannins (cinquefoil rhizome, oak bark, etc.) should be filtered immediately after removal from heat. Since in the process of preparing infusions or decoctions the amount of liquid decreases, after filtering them, boiled water should be added to the resulting ready-made extract to the required volume (for example, a decoction was prepared in the ratio of 10 g of roots per 200 ml of water, but the extract turned out to be 180 ml, therefore, you need to add add 20 ml of boiled water to bring the volume of the decoction to 200 ml).

Infusions or decoctions intended for external use are prepared more concentrated than those taken orally.

It happens that one part of the components of a plant (or complex collection) is easily extracted with cold water, while the other can only be extracted with hot water. To prepare a preparation from such a plant (or collection) requires a special approach. The raw materials are first poured with cold water and, after appropriate aging, filtered, then the raw materials are boiled with a new amount of water, and then filtered again. The resulting cold infusion and decoction are mixed.

Store teas, infusions and decoctions in a cool place for no more than 2 days (it is better to prepare them daily).

Tinctures are extracts from plant materials obtained with alcohol. To prepare them, crushed plant materials are poured with 70% or 40% alcohol (in a ratio of 1:10 when using potent raw materials or 1:5 when using weak ones) and kept at room temperature for 7-14 days. Then the tincture is filtered, the remains of the plants are squeezed out, filtered, after which the resulting tincture is added to the first filtrate, kept for 2-3 days in the refrigerator and filtered again.

Alcohol tinctures can be stored for a long time; they are usually dosed in drops (usually 15-30 drops per dose).

Extracts are concentrated extracts from plant materials, purified from ballast substances. They are obtained at pharmaceutical plants (the technology for obtaining extracts is quite complex). Extracts are divided into liquid, thick and dry. To obtain liquid extracts, only ethyl alcohol is used. Its concentration is most often 70%. While tinctures are diluted extracts, liquid extracts are highly concentrated extracts. To obtain them, the active substances of plants are gradually extracted with alcohol and purified from ballast substances. From one part by weight of plant material, 1 part by volume of liquid extract is obtained. Thick extracts are viscous masses with a moisture content of no more than 25% (the liquid is evaporated using a vacuum). Thick extracts are used to make pills. Dry extracts are dried extracts from medicinal plants. They have the form of a powder or spongy mass, easily converted into powder. This is the most convenient and rational type of extracts. Their production is constantly growing, despite the relative complexity of the technology.

Syrups are thick, sweet-tasting, clear liquids intended for internal use. The sugar concentration in them reaches 65%. These are saturated sugar solutions. They have high osmotic pressure, which completely prevents the growth and development of microorganisms. Thanks to this, syrups are well preserved. Refined sugar is used for their preparation; granulated sugar is not used, since it contains protein and mucous substances that give the syrup a yellow color. There are flavor syrups (sugar, cherry, raspberry, tangerine) and medicinal.

Sugar syrup. It is obtained by dissolving highly purified sugar - refined sugar - in a mixture heated to 60-70°C and then boiling for 20-25 minutes (sugar concentration should be 55-65%). The syrup is then filtered while hot. The result is a thick, colorless and transparent liquid, odorless, sweet taste, neutral reaction. Tangerine syrup. To obtain it, mix 15 parts of tangerine peel tincture with 85 parts of sugar syrup. Tangerine syrup has a fragrant odor and a brownish-yellow color. Raspberry syrup. 62 parts of sugar are dissolved in 38 parts of fermented clear berry juice, then boiled and filtered. The finished raspberry syrup is transparent, has a pleasant smell and a sour-sweet taste. Cherry, rowan and other syrups are prepared in the same way.

To obtain medicinal syrups, sugar syrup is mixed with medicinal extracts, tinctures or fruit food extracts (heating is used if necessary), then filtered (if heating was used, the syrup is filtered while hot). In cases where the sugar concentration in the syrup is less than 50%, alcohol is added to it for preservation.

Syrups of marshmallow, rose hips, rhubarb, licorice, aloe and other medicinal plants are very widely used. To store syrups, you should use glass containers, which are filled to the top, well sealed with a stopper and placed in a dark and cool place.

Ointments are dosage forms of soft consistency intended for external use. They are prepared mainly from powders of medicinal plants, but plant juices and their dry and thick extracts can be used. Unsalted pork, goose, beef fat, Vaseline, vegetable or butter, etc. are used as an ointment base.

Pork fat has a melting point of 34-46°C, the color is whitish, and the consistency is delicate and soft. Based on it, easy-to-spread ointments are obtained that can be easily washed off with hot water. Pork fat is well absorbed by the skin and promotes the absorption of active substances mixed with it. However, ointment with pork fat has a drawback - it deteriorates quite quickly. Butter also penetrates the skin barrier well, and ointments prepared with it have a deeper effect than, for example, ointments with Vaseline. But they are also subject to rapid deterioration.

Goose fat has an even lower melting point than pork fat - 26-34°C, its consistency is very soft and tender. Previously, it was a favorite fatty base of ointments used for frostbite.

Beef fat is white and has a dense consistency. Its melting point is 42-50°C. It is used, as a rule, in a mixture with pork fat (to increase its hardness).

Vegetable oils - peach, almond, apricot, peanut, sunflower, olive, soybean, cottonseed, etc. have a liquid consistency, so they cannot be used as an independent fat base and are used as part of complex ointment bases, which are alloys of vegetable oils with solid fats , waxes, etc. sealing agents. Ointments containing vegetable fats last longer.

Beeswax, both yellow and white, fuses well with other waxes and fats. It is often used in ointments to give greater density to too soft bases (for example, an alloy is prepared from 1 part yellow wax and 3 parts sunflower oil or an alloy from 1 part white wax, 2 parts spermaceti and 7 parts peach oil).

Spermaceti is obtained from spermaceti oil. This is a solid product. It is usually used as a sealant for soft ointment bases, like vegetable oils.

Anhydrous lanolin is a mixture of esters of high molecular weight alcohols and acids. It is a yellowish-brown, viscous mass with a specific odor. When mixed, it absorbs up to 150% water and up to 140% (of its weight) glycerin. Lanolin is chemically indifferent, stores well, easily fuses with fats and wax and, importantly, can penetrate the skin barrier. However, lanolin anhydrous has a high viscosity and is difficult to spread. Therefore, it is used in mixture with other ointment bases. Lanolin can also cause allergic reactions (especially in people with skin diseases).

Lanolin water is a viscous thick mass of yellow-white color. It cannot be heated, as this causes separation: the aqueous lanolin emulsion system breaks down into anhydrous lanolin (70%) and water (30%). Aqueous lanolin is a widely used emulsion ointment base that has a number of valuable properties: it accelerates the absorption of medicinal substances from ointments by the skin, is easily applied to the skin and washed off from it.

Vaseline is a mixture of solid and liquid high-molecular hydrocarbons with an ointment-like consistency, odorless and tasteless. Its melting point is 37-47 degrees. It is resistant to oxidation and is well preserved (it is not a breeding ground for microbes, will not go rancid, and ointments prepared on its basis can be stored for a long time). Vaseline is a standard ointment base. It mixes well when heated with fats, oils and waxes. However, it has a number of disadvantages. Vaseline ointments are not absorbed by the skin and very slowly and in small quantities transfer medicinal substances mixed with it to the body tissues. In addition, Vaseline ointments are difficult to wash off from skin and linen.

Silicone bases are colorless, transparent, highly viscous, odorless, oily liquids that do not mix with water. These are high-molecular organosilicon compounds that are highly stable and well preserved. But silicone-based ointments are not absorbed by the skin and the medicinal substances they contain penetrate extremely slowly and to a limited extent into the body tissues. Therefore, silicone ointments are used mainly to protect the skin from irritating external influences. When making ointments, a preservative is also used to prevent them from deteriorating during long-term storage, and fragrances are used to give the ointments a pleasant smell. Geranium, lavender and other oils, cinnamon alcohol, nipagin and nipazole can be used as preservatives.

Ointment: features of its preparation. The ointment base is heated in a water bath, then part of it is mixed in a porcelain mortar with the powder of the medicinal plant using a dog, after which the rest of the ointment base is added to the required weight (according to the recipe). If essential oils and other volatile substances are added to the ointment, they are introduced last. Ointments containing up to 10-25% of plant materials are usually prepared from medicinal plants. For ointments, wide-necked jars made of glass, porcelain, or plastic are used, with a tight-fitting lid. Fill them to the top and store them in a cool place out of the sun.

Attention!

Proper preparation of preparations from medicinal plants largely determines the success of treatment with them! Chronic diseases require long-term treatment with preparations from plants - from 4 to 12 months or more, changing the composition every 2 months. Dosage for children - 1/20 of the dose is required for each year of the child adult (for example, a child 10 years old is given half the adult dose).

They can also cause harm. Contraindications in herbal treatment. There is a list of the main, most potent medicinal plants and herbs, the use of which requires special care.

Many plants and herbs can be poisonous, so you should be careful and careful when treating these plants. For example, fragrant violet, adonis vernacular or celandine are poisonous; be sure to consult a doctor before using them. Poisonous: white water lily - strictly follow the dosage when taking; May lily of the valley - you should take it very carefully. Long-term use of tricolor violet preparations and overdose can cause vomiting, diarrhea and an itchy rash. Chaga is also quite a powerful remedy, so consult your doctor before self-medicating.

Instructions for the use of herbs

Recently, it has become fashionable to be treated with unconventional methods, herbs, honey and other gifts of nature (herbal medicine - the science of healing with herbs). But often we do not know how to use these “drugs” and simple ignorance can lead to serious consequences. We talked about the basics of herbal medicine with herbalist Tamara Aleksandrovna Davidenko.

- Tamara Aleksandrovna, please tell us about herbal medicine, how much has this science been studied, how well-known are herbs to modern medicine?
- I would like to note that many herbs have not yet been studied. We know nothing about their properties, indications and contraindications. Previously, herbal medicine was not taught in medical universities; now it is taught only in the final year. Many doctors do not know enough about contraindications. Today, Samara State Medical University is studying the composition of herbs and introducing these developments into medical practice. And this is correct, because there is a lot of advertising of herbal medicines, and before you use anything, you must, as the old proverb says, “measure seven times.” Often those herbs are advertised whose chemical composition has not yet been studied, or which have already been withdrawn from medical practice due to their toxicity or ineffectiveness. By the way, a lot of literature on herbal medicine is published, very bright and colorful. But you shouldn't look at the pictures. Sometimes books published before 1991 are much more accurate than modern ones. From my own experience, I have encountered errors in books, sometimes unacceptable: for example, it is written that some herb increases blood pressure, but in fact it lowers it. There are discrepancies even in the same book! Interest in herbal medicine provokes the appearance of relevant articles in the press. However, you need to be careful - some published recipes can easily cause complications... There was such a case in my practice - I saw an incorrect recipe in one newspaper, called and asked to speak with the author of the article. The author's name could not be found out. Just a few weeks later, people began to appear at my appointment with complications caused by taking the infusion according to this recipe.

- There is an opinion that it is impossible to harm with natural medicines, how true is this?
- Unfortunately, this is the biggest misconception. People take herbal infusions and decoctions without dosages, without taking into account the characteristics of their body. However, herbs have many contraindications, and if you drink them as many people do (for example, adding everything you can get your hands on to your tea), you can do harm. Many herbs have a toxic effect on the liver and kidneys, and many expectorant herbs, in addition to their main action, increase or decrease gastric secretion. In many cases, it is also necessary to take into account the level of blood pressure. So the first and main recommendation is that herbs can only be used if you know the contraindications. You cannot mix herbs at random, since many of them are simply incompatible: one of the herbs will destroy the beneficial properties of the other. In addition, herbs can undergo chemical reactions and form new compounds with unpredictable therapeutic effects.

- Explain then, what are the contraindications for herbal treatment?
- As mentioned above, the selection of herbs for treatment should be strictly individual. Some drugs must be used with caution during pregnancy, as they have a toxic effect on the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system of the fetus. The use of sage, tansy, oregano, parsley, large doses of rose hips, etc. leads to spontaneous miscarriage or premature birth. St. John's wort, wild rosemary, Echinops, thermopsis, barberry, etc. have a toxic effect on the fruit. Many herbs should also not be used by nursing mothers, since they can cause serious illness in the future if they affect the baby. Moreover, in this case, it never occurs to anyone that this is the result of improper use of herbs.

- What then are the rules for using herbs in medicine?
- First of all, the dosage is very important: you cannot drink infusions and decoctions of herbs in glasses. The same rule applies here as for medicinal medicine - when prescribing certain tablets, you do not drink the entire package at once, but strictly adhere to the norm, being aware of the possible adverse consequences of an overdose! So it is in herbal medicine.
It is also important when you drink this or that decoction - before, after or during meals... Herbs should be prescribed to children very carefully, since their dosage depends on age and weight. Moreover, for children we begin to use herbal medicine with 1/12 of the adult dose. Exceeding it, you can disrupt the physical, mental development, and hormonal levels of the child, since many herbs (mint, lemon balm, hops, licorice, oregano, chamomile) contain phytoestrogens (female sex hormones). And some herbs, acting through the hypothalamus, can stimulate excessive hormonal activity of the body, which leads to disorders with all the ensuing consequences. After 60 years, the dose, as well as in childhood (from 1 year of life to 25 years), should be reduced.
The duration of the course of treatment is also important: for example, some choleretic herbs can be used for no more than two weeks, followed by a break. If taken longer, they will begin to inhibit bile production or deplete liver cells (for example, long-term use of immortelle can lead to cirrhosis of the liver). The toxic effects of herbs can also be expressed in kidney damage, a decrease in hemoglobin levels, the appearance of seizures and hallucinations. Thus, wormwood leads to a decrease in hemoglobin levels, so it is contraindicated for patients with anemia. The use of yarrow can lead to rashes and headaches. And taking St. John's wort increases blood pressure and reduces potency in men.

- In what areas of medicine is the use of herbs considered most effective? And how to properly prepare an infusion or decoction?
- Each herb contains a complex of biologically active substances. Sometimes the grass has different properties. Moreover, one of them may be strong, and herbalists call this property the severity of the action. Doctors compile a “comparative description of the main mechanisms of action of medicinal plants”, thus patients are prescribed exactly the herb that has the desired property clearly expressed.
As for the method of preparation, from the same herb, brewing it in different ways, you can get different medicine. A number of factors influence this: the degree of grinding of plant materials, the amount of liquid, the mode of infusion and cooling. For example, if the particles of plant material are larger than the required size, then the medicinal substances will not be completely extracted, and we will simply get colored water with a weak therapeutic effect. If the raw material is crushed into powder, then a large amount of ballast substances are released into the solution, often with a negative therapeutic effect.
If you keep the drug in a water bath for a longer time than expected, then the already released substances will be destroyed, and others will begin to be released. Also with cooling, after which it is necessary to strain the grass. If you strain earlier, the substances that should go into solution will not be extracted. If it’s later, the released substances will either begin to break down, or will again go into the grass or precipitate, that is, we lose them. And we strain some herbs immediately after removing them from the water bath, for example those containing tannins, in particular oak bark.
Here's an example by the way. Herbalists know 6 different methods of brewing oats: for dysbiosis, eczema, diabetes, pancreatitis, etc. And they are all different! The shelf life of any infusion or decoction is 2 days if stored in the refrigerator from the moment of brewing. The exception here is the kidney tea plant - it needs to be brewed daily. And one more thing: I do not recommend brewing herbs in bags, since the therapeutic effect from them is minimal (compare brewed loose leaf tea or tea bags, you will understand the difference).

- And yet, is it possible to cure any disease with the help of herbal medicine alone?
- Herbs are not a panacea. But in some cases, such treatment actually acts as the main method, and in some cases as an auxiliary one. For example, colds, acute bronchitis, exacerbation of some chronic diseases (gastritis, peptic ulcer, cholecysto-pancreatitis, acute cystitis, exacerbation of chronic pyelonephritis, etc.) can only be treated with the help of herbs. And for diseases such as diabetes, joint diseases, thyroid diseases, atherosclerosis, and some heart diseases, herbal medicine is only an addition to medication. Some diseases are treated by alternating medication and herbal medicine. For example, for acute pyelonephritis - 1 week of chemotherapy, the next three - herbal treatment, then this course is repeated. In some cases, herbal medicine can achieve better results.

- What do herbalists consider more effective - taking medications from one herb or from several?
- Nowadays, many medicinal balms have appeared, consisting of a large number of herbs, but since each herb has its own contraindication, it is very difficult to select a patient for whom all these herbs were beneficial. The same situation applies to teas.

- We all know such common herbs as St. John's wort, nettle, plantain... What is better: collecting the herb yourself or buying it at the pharmacy? Is it safe to pick your own herbs?
- Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine whether a herb is a medicinal herb or not. For example, in the Samara region there are 4 types of St. John's wort, of which one is medicinal, two are useless, and the fourth is poisonous. Which one did you collect? Sometimes only a specialist can determine the type of grass using a microscope (it is especially difficult to identify plants of the umbrella family, among which many are life-threatening). Therefore, it is better not to collect or buy on the streets yourself, since very often they sell herbs that are at best useless. Very often, odorless three-ribs are sold under the guise of chamomile. Of course, hawthorn and linden blossom are difficult to confuse with anything, so such herbs can be collected. But here, too, you must adhere to the rules of collection: under no circumstances should you collect herbs in the city, near roads and busy highways. Sometimes a person simply does not know what exactly to use - leaves, grass (stems), roots or flowers. For some diseases it is better to use flowers, for others - leaves. But in modern literature this is often not reflected; only the name of the plant is written. Ideally, a person can buy herbs at a pharmacy and make the necessary decoction himself, following a prescription from a herbalist.

- There are now a variety of companies in pharmacies presenting phytotherapeutic products. Which ones do you recommend?
- The highest quality herbs are produced by government organizations. Private companies allow a lot of impurities, and sometimes even confuse the name of the herb. Of the well-known ones, I recommend herbs from Krasnogorsk, Krasnodar and Anapa. In the Samara region, we grow medicinal herbs in the Sergievsky district.

- Are herbs effective in cosmetology?
- Yes, herbs and fruits are widely used. But it’s better if you apply not cream with strawberries to your face, but strawberries themselves with sour cream, for example. This will be much more effective.

- What are the benefits of herbal treatment?
- The main advantages of herbal medicine are: natural combinations of chemical compounds, which determine their better tolerability, multicomponent therapeutic effect, fewer complications and side effects (if used correctly), milder effects. But you need to be very careful and be sure to consult a doctor before use.