RLS: herbal precautions

[Guest guest]

Dear Group...

Connie (MetaMom) and I have been having an email exchange on the topic of

Gingko. We decided it might be a good idea to share our information, but I

wanted to preface it with a description of where she and I stand on this.

We both love the idea of using herbs, vitamins, supplements, etc. But we

have a theory that " if they are effective, then they must be potent. If

they are potent, then we should be as careful with them as we are with

prescription medicines. " We are also concerned about how our

non-prescription therapies might interact or even cause problems when taken

with prescription medicines. This is our concern with Gingko, after

reading some articles on it.

So...first, we'd like to warn you to tell your doctor or pharmacist which

non-prescription meds you are taking, so drug interactions can be

considered. If an herb is a natural antibiotic, you might not want a

prescription antibiotic taken with it. If it's a blood thinner, you

wouldn't want to also take a prescription blood thinner.

Second, we'd like to share some concerns we have about Gingko. We've each

used it, and still do, on occasion...so we are NOT badmouthing the product.

We are just concerned about possible problems it can cause. My 22 year

old son recently told me he started using it on a regular basis. I'm going

to share with you a copy of the letter I sent to him. Connie wanted to

also stress the following, " this would be of extreme importance to anyone

who happened to have a problem with bleeding or was taking a blood thinner

for some existing condition. A person who was at particular risk for

stroke would certainly..... (SHOULD certainly)........ not want to be

taking Ginkgo just because they believe it might help their memory,

which.....by the way, I believe several studies have shown not to be true.

Anyone interested in reading the actual statement that we have can write

and ask for it. "

There will always be studies to show both sides of an argument about a

product like this. I figure it's up to me to be aware of both sides, know

the possibilities, and then make the best decision for myself at the time.

Here's what I wrote to my son. I hope it helps some of you make confident

decisions about any non-prescription medicines you use.

Jill, 46, AZ

http://www.netzone.com/~gunzel/rls.html

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Dear Jon...

All I could find on the bad effects of gingko, were a couple of emails on

bulletin boards, but they were the type of things I remember reading last

year when I came across the warnings. They seem to have to do with

dilating arteries and causing stroke and hemorrhaging in the eyes. They

also seem to be in connection with taking Vitamin E and/or other blood

thinners at the same time. I can't tell you what the gingko dosages were,

but that would be important to know.

SO...here's the thing on herbs...in my humble opinion.

#1 I LIKE the use of supplements and herbs....basically I mean

" non-prescription, but legal " medicines.

#2 I see them as medicines. They work! Therefore, we need to treat them

as medicines and be very careful with what THEY do to us and also with how

they interact with other medicines. They are NOT food.

#3 There are supplements you can take because you think you have a

deficiency and they will rebuild the supply in your system....like

vitamins, natural hormones, and fatty acids. These are already in your

system and in most cases can come from food we eat or be supplemented by

pills. Keep in mind, though, that even vitamins and minerals can be

overdosed. Iron and Vitamin D and Vitamin A are common ones that people

get into trouble with by overdosing.

There are also supplements that are therapeutic...more like antibiotics or

pain killers. They actually DO SOMETHING to your body that makes you feel

good, as opposed to supplying something you already have. Gingko is not

something that's in our system. It dilates blood supplies and creates

possibly abnormal situations. This may HELP us feel better or do something

better, but it's an unnatural change in the body. (Not sure I'm right

about any of this, or that I'm explaining it well, so don't argue it...just

try to understand the point I'm making and then view it the way you want.)

#4 Therefore......I take some pills continually (vitamins, DHA, minerals)

because they supplement diet. I take other pills therapeutically, for

short times (7 days maximum) to fight a problem (echinacea, kava kava,

ginseng, etc.)

#5 If I take pills therapeutically, then I take them the same as I would

take an antibiotic prescribed by a doctor. I take them on a schedule, and

try to not miss a dose. I also try to get sleep, exercise, or good diet,

or whatever else will help those pills work fast.

I guess I'm suggesting that you don't take Gingko on a regular ongoing

program, but more on an " as needed " program. Try to rely on your own

abilities, mostly, and use it when you might be short of sleep or needing

to work harder on your homework, for a short time. Just a thought. I'm

sure no expert on this stuff.

Love,

Mom