Herbal Medicinal Plants & Drug Interactions

Note: This list does not cover all the possible drugs that may interact with these plants. If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs and considering the addition of an herbal supplement (whether that be in the form of tincture, capsules, tea, or raw food source) please do your research and check with a health professional to make sure you are not compromising treatments, or protocol plans, in process.

BLACK COHOSH ROOT
Cancer Therapy Drugs

BROWN’S PEONY ROOT
Medications that slow blood clotting such as Phenytoin (Dilantin)

BURDOCK ROOT
Insulin Drugs or others used to control blood sugar

CHAGA MUSHROOM
Insulin Drugs or others used to control blood sugar
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)

CLEAVERS
Lithium

ECCINACEA
Anabolic Steroid (oxymetholone or Anadrol-50)
Heart Medication (amiodarone)
Chemotherapy Drug (methotrexate
Antifungal Drug (ketoconazole)

ELDERBERRY
Laxatives
Insulin Drugs or Metformin to regulate blood sugar
Immune system suppressants such as corticosteroids

FEVERFEW
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)

HAWTHORN BERRY
Antiarrhythmics, antihypertensives (vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor
blokers, calcium channel blockers), cardiac glycosides (digoxin), vasodilators
(phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors), and antihyperlipidemic agents

HORSETAIL
Anti-hypertensive drugs, Digitalis, corticosteroids, Heparin, or Lithium
Nicotine Patch or Gum

HUCKLEBERRY
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)

JAPANESE KNOTWEED ROOT
Laxatives (interact with the capsules of Japanese Knotweed)
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)
Drugs metabolized by the P-450 enzyme system in the liver

LEMON BALM
Thyroxine in thyroid medications

LICORICE ROOT
Estrogenic pharmaceuticals
Hypertensive drugs
Cardiac glycosides
Diuretics such as Spironolactone or Amiloride (potassium-sparing)
Corticosteroids
Hydrocortisone

LINDEN
Lithium
Water Pills

LOMATIUM ROOT
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)
Immunostimulants (drugs given to boost the immune system)

MILK THISTLE SEED
Allergy drugs such as Allegra (fexofenadine)
Drugs for high cholesterol including statins such as Mevacor, Altocor (lovastatin)
Anti-anxiety drugs – including Xanax (lprazolam, Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam)
Anti-platelet and anti-coagulant drugs such as blood thinners : Plavix (clopidogrel) and Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)
Some Cancer Drugs
Drugs broken down by the liver

NETTLE LEAF
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)

OREGON GRAPE ROOT
Drugs using the liver’s cytochrome P450 enzyme system
Benzodiazepine such as Ativan (lorazepam) or Valium (diazepam)
Barbiturates such as Phenobarbital
Narcotics such as codeine
Some Antidepressants
CNS depressants
Antibiotics such as Tetracycline
Cancer Drugs
Cardiovascular Drugs
Cyclosporine
Drugs that affect the immune system
Drugs that prevent or relieve seizures
Gastrointestinal Agents

PURSLANE
Drugs for Kidney Disease

SHEPHERD’S PURSE
Blood Pressure Drugs
Sedative Drugs such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates
Some Antihistamines

SKULLCAP
Sedative Drugs including anticonvulsants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines
Insomnia Drugs
Tricyclic Antidepressants

ST JOHN’S WORT
HIV Drugs (indinavir)
Organ Transplant Rejection Drugs (cyclosporine)
Heart Medication (digoxin)
Asthma Medication (theophylline)
Other Antidepressants

UVA-URSI
Lithium

VALERIAN ROOT
Depressants such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or opiates
Medications broken down by the liver — some of these include: lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion)

WATERCRESS
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)
Chlorzoxazone, a muscle relaxant
Lithium

WILLOW BARK
Blood Thinners : Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis), Heparin (various), Warfarin (Coumadin)
Beta Blockers
Diuretics (water pills)
Anti-inflammatory Drugs such as Ibuprophen, Naproxen
Seizure Medications such as Dilantin (phenytoin)