Welcome all to my first question. As I had explained early in this question, I will be looking at the effects with which herbal herbal medicine has when added chemicals. Once again welcome.
How is herbal medicine affected by chemicals to make them manmade?
Pharmaceuticals vs herbs: What is the difference?
Besides their difference in origin (synthetic vs natural), the main difference between pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines is their chemical complexity and composition. Pharmaceuticals are mostly single compounds, whereas herbal medicines are chemically complex with hundreds or thousands of molecules in each extract. Humans have been using medicines from nature for thousands of years, but in the 1800s this began to change due to rapid advances in chemistry.
What are the benefits and limitations of isolating compounds?
There are some benefits to using isolated compounds, for example, pharmaceutical drugs can have a faster onset of action and greater potency (a smaller quantity has a greater effect). The use of isolated compounds also allows for greater precision with dosing, where the exact measure of the bioactive compound is known and administered. In plants, the concentration of active constituents in an extract can vary owing to a multitude of factors — environmental conditions, soil health, time of harvest, biodiversity etc.
However, the use of isolated compounds as medicine is often associated with a higher incidence of side effects. The integrative use of herbs in conjunction with pharmaceutical agents can help to mitigate these effects .
EFFECTS OF HEBAL MEDICINE .
Allergic Reactions:
- Some individuals may develop allergic reactions to specific herbal compounds.
- Symptoms can range from skin rashes, hives, and itching and can worsen to breathing difficulty and anaphylaxis.
- Herbs like chamomile, echinacea, and ginseng have been known to trigger allergic responses.
Gastrointestinal Disturbances:
- Consumption of certain herbal remedies can have consequences on gastric parts, such as loose stools, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain.
- Common includes herbal laxatives and bitter-tasting herbs.
Interactions with Medications:
- Herbal remedies can interact with prescription drugs, leading to altered effectiveness or intensified side effects.
- St. John’s Wort, for example, can reduce the efficacy of antidepressants, while ginkgo biloba might increase bleeding risk when taken with blood thinners.
Liver and Kidney Problems:
- Some herbal compounds can strain the liver and kidneys, leading to potential damage over time.
- Extensive use of herbs like comfrey, kava, and cascara sagrada has been linked to liver toxicity and other organ-related issues.
Hormonal Imbalances:
- Certain herbal remedies contain compounds that can disrupt hormone balance in the body.
- Phytoestrogens in herbs like black cohosh and soy-based supplements can interfere with the endocrine system and hormonal health.
Neurological Effects:
- Certain herbs can affect the nervous system, leading to adverse neurological effects.
- High doses of herbs like ginkgo biloba and vinpocetine may cause headaches, dizziness, and even seizures.
Cardiovascular Complications:
- Herbal remedies like Ephedra (ma-huang) have been associated with cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and heart palpitations.
- Some herbs might interfere with heart medications and exacerbate existing heart conditions.
Blood Clotting and Bleeding Risk:
- Certain herbs, such as garlic, ginger, and ginseng, can impact blood clotting and increase bleeding risk, especially during surgeries or when taken with blood-thinning medications.
Photosensitivity:
- Some herbs can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, leading to sunburns and skin irritation.
- St. John’s Wort is known to cause photosensitivity in certain individuals.
Drug Tests and False Positives:
- Consumption of certain herbal products can lead to false positive results in drug tests.
- Poppy seeds, for instance, can lead to a positive result for opioids due to their morphine content.
Pregnancy and Fertility Concerns:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women should exercise caution with herbal remedies, as some herbs can adversely affect fetal development or milk production.
- Certain herbs like black and blue cohosh are known to have potential risks during pregnancy.
EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL MEDICE.
- Abortion, miscarriage or uterine hemorrhage associated with misoprostol (Cytotec), a labor-inducing drug (this is a case where the adverse effect has been used legally and illegally for performing abortions)
- Addiction to many sedatives and analgesics, such as diazepam, morphine, etc.
- Birth defects associated with thalidomide
- Bleeding of the intestine associated with aspirin therapy
- Cardiovascular disease associated with COX-2 inhibitors (i.e. Vioxx)
- Deafness and kidney failure associated with gentamicin (an antibiotic)
- Death, following sedation, in children using propofol (Diprivan)
- Depression or hepatic injury caused by interferon
- Diabetes caused by atypical antipsychotic medications (neuroleptic psychiatric drugs)
- Diarrhea caused by the use of orlistat (Xenical)
- Erectile dysfunction associated with many drugs, such as antidepressants
- Fever associated with vaccination
- Glaucoma associated with corticosteroid-based eye drops
- Hair loss and anemia may be caused by chemotherapy against cancer, leukemia, etc.
- Headache following spinal anaesthesia
- Hypertension in ephedrine users, which prompted FDA to remove the dietary supplement status of ephedra extracts
- Insomnia caused by stimulants, methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, etc.
- Lactic acidosis associated with the use of stavudine (Zerit, for HIV therapy)] or metformin (for diabetes)
- Mania caused by corticosteroids
- Liver damage from paracetamol
- Melasma and thrombosis associated with use of estrogen-containing hormonal contraception, such as the combined oral contraceptive pill
- Priapism associated with the use of sildenafil
- Rhabdomyolysis associated with statins (anticholesterol drugs)
- Seizures caused by withdrawal from benzodiazepines
- Drowsiness or increase in appetite due to antihistamine use. Some antihistamines are used in sleep aids explicitly because they cause drowsiness.
- Stroke or heart attack associated with sildenafil (Viagra), when used with nitroglycerin
- Suicide, increased tendency associated to the use of fluoxetine and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants
- Tardive dyskinesia associated with use of metoclopramide and many antipsychotic medications