Herbal-Drug Interactions and Adverse Effects by Dr. R.B. Philp is a concise guide invaluable to the primary care practitioner in today’s environment of complex pharmacological, dietary, and herbal supplemental interventions with information derived from evidence-based research on various herbal supplements, outlining known, unknown or suspected metabolic pathways from a thorough and current search of peer-reviewed, published scientific literature. Particular attention is paid to the concurrent use of prescribed or OTC pharmacological agents wherein certain known metabolic functions may be altered or inhibited, and wherein the biochemical actions of the supplement or pharmaceutical may be enhanced or altered in some manner. The guide concentrates on agents that are most commonly used and of significant known toxicity. In most typical applications, herbal remedies are taken for some therapeutic effect or benefit.
Dr. Philp emphasizes that as chemicals capable of inducing change within the body, these herbal decoctions and concentrates; although “natural”, does not delegate that the agent’s action will follow altogether different or innovative metabolic pathways to produce its effect. If a herbal derivation has a therapeutic effect, it is therefore acting as a drug by all intents and purposes, and will therefore operate within certain biological metabolic parameters. The text is clear and efficient in its alphabetically arranged guide to various herbal compounds, their typical utilizations and applications, and in describing any scientific validity to their claims through evidence-based research. Practitioners will find also particularly useful an extensive list of Appendices covering herbs, spices, OTC and pharmaceutical agents that have documented, potential, and theoretical interactions regarding subjects ranging from anticoagulant actions, hepatotoxicity, dermatological reactions, cardiac function altering actions, and blood glucose, lipid, anti-inflammatory, nephrotoxic and carcinogenic effects. This guide is precisely what is needed in terms of a reasonable and educated foundation to assist the practitioner and informed consumer decision-making process.