Table 3.

Common indications and interactions of alternative medications

Alternative medication	Indications73,74	Interactions
St John’s Wort	Depression	Antidepressants (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, monoamine oxidase inhibitor) 75
		Warfarin 76
		Digoxin 77
		Statins 78
		All cytochrome P450-metabolized agents 79
Asian Ginseng	Promote wellbeing	Can lower blood glucose; potential interaction with hypoglycaemic agents 73
	Erectile dysfunction	Inhibition of platelet aggregation, reduced platelet adhesiveness 73
	Hypertension
	Diabetes
Gingko biloba	Dementia	Increased bleeding tendency 73,80
	Intermittent claudication	Warfarin/NSAIDS/Heparin
	Tinnitus
Kava	Anxiety, insomnia	Can provoke dystonia
		Dopamine agonists/antagonists
		CNS depressants 73,81
Saw palmetto	Benign prostatic hypertrophy	Increased bleeding tendency
		Anticoagulants
		Antiplatelets 73,82,83