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Crit Care Nurse 2002 Aug; 22(4): 16
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Letters to the Editor

Positive integration of drugs and herbs

My wife (an RN) brought your magazine home for me to read. More articles like "Herbal Remedies: Drug-Herb Interactions" (April 2002:22–32) are needed in today’s media. The author brought up many issues affecting over 40% of the US population, that is, those who take supplements.

I am a naturopathic physician, trained at a 4-year naturopathic medical school (National College of Naturopathic Medicine) and have consulted with many patients and their doctors on reactions and interactions of the supplements they are taking. The one problem with the article in the April issue that is consistent with other information from the conventional medical community is that people should not take supplements that may interact in deference to the drug therapy. We need a positive integration model, not one of "this or that." For instance, omega 3 (fish oils) and CoQ 10 may interact with blood thinners but have also been shown to be protective and therapeutic for the heart. Why lose the therapeutic effect by not taking them? Why not treat them as a needed part of the protocol with directed times and amounts to take and then titrate the coumadin or other medications to the newly needed levels, utilizing the benefits of both therapies. We are at a special time when knowledgeable, qualified practitioners of both schools of medicine can truly integrate care for the patients.

Michael A. Visconti, ND
 The Center for Natural & Integrative Medicine Orlando, Fla

 

The author responds

As a traditional healthcare provider, I am pursuing a degree in naturopathy myself. I totally agree with your concepts! It is extremely important that patients who choose to use supplements and herbs, in addition to their prescription drugs, consult a complementary provider to guide their therapy. Then, the traditional and complementary providers work together to guide the patient’s therapy. When titrated properly, herbs and supplements may reduce the use of drugs, and thus lessen their side effects and toxic effects, and also reduce drug costs.

When you review the drug-herb interaction table closely, rarely is there a statement that says, "Do not use together." The mechanism of the reaction is stated so that healthcare providers understand what to monitor for. The reason for the article is to identify, for healthcare providers, that problems can occur from indiscriminate use of herbs and supplements.

Merrily Kuhn, RN, PhD
 Hamburg, NY





This Article
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Right arrow Articles by Visconti, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Kuhn, M.

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