Me again. I was looking into maybe taking some herbal supplements. And I was wondering, do any of you guys know which herbs would make birth control pill ineffective. The only one so far I have found that would lover effectivness of the pill was chamomile. Do you know of any more herbs that do that?
LittleFury
Posted: 28 Sep 00:40
Go to a health food store and consult with an herbalist, often the business owner. These people are schooled in herbs in much the same way a pharmacist is trained in the realm of drugs. Do not expect a sales clerk to have the answer.
dancingdoc2
Posted: 28 Sep 00:40
The most common problems are chamomile, as in tea, St John's Wart and virtually anything that poses as an anti-depressanr. You can put "drug interactions" into google and you will get some good sites. WebMD has a large section on drug interactions.
Dancing Doc has the best idea, ask a pharmacist. Ideally, a homeopathic pharmacy would have a list of virtually all herbals and medicines. In Europe, Homeopathic pharmacies are easy to find; In N. America, they may be only in major cities where homeopathic doctors are available. Homeopathy depends more upon natural drugs than chemical ones and the people involved would have a greater knowledge.
If naturopathy is legal wherever you are, naturopaths are more knowledgeable than most allopathic physicians - such as I - or, commonly, "MDs."
Brandye
Posted: 28 Sep 00:40
I have a question about the interactions between BCPs and natural herb supplements and other substances; specifically, which ones decrease the effectiveness of the Pill?
I know that antibiotics certainly do, and that St. John's Wort has also been implicated, as well as taking too much Vitamin E. Are there any other drugs, minerals or herbs that do or have been suspected to decrease the Pill's effectiveness? I have an herbal tea that I sometimes drink to alleviate stress, which contains chamomile, lemon grass, passion flower, bacopa leaf and other herbs, and was wondering if it might be in the list of substances to avoid.
Thanks so much for your help!
kate_luana
Posted: 30 Sep 01:12
Based on the pill ask the pharmacist to print a list of the most common. Also, at your next gyn appointment take the box of tea with you & discuss it w/him or her. Some antibiotics are & herbals are known contraindications for BCP users alone.
Always supply you MD with anything you are taking. If you get a new RX, go back through the currents supplements, herbals, and meds with your MD. This is good practice since many have no idea what herbals can do over the years. Often found older patients with lab work which was way off & all because they did not know or mention taking certain herbals--one big one was "Foxglove" & forgot they already took it! Hence 6-7 times the amount added already to Digoxin.
Always use caution & ask the doc & pharmacist!
sera300
Posted: 30 Sep 01:12
Thanks for the advice, Sera and Brandye!
I saw my gynecologist yesterday, and asked her for a list of substances that could alter BCP effectiveness. However, she told me that only certain antibiotics were known to affect it and that "everything else is controversial; you should only be concerned with the antibiotics". It was rather frustrating and fruitless! I will probably start avoiding excessive Vitamin E and chamomile when I start using BCPs as birth control anyway; better safe than sorry, I believe.
kate_luana
Posted: 30 Sep 01:12
You are welcome; if ever in doubt add another form of BC to be certain & to be safe.
sera300
Posted: 30 Sep 01:12
A Swedish study found, not conclusively, that chamomile does interfere with the pill - or any hormonal comtraceptive.
I warn my patients about anti-biotics, Vit E, chamomile, and anything - drug or supplement - that indicates psychotropic effects. As sera indicates, ask your chemist or doctor specifics.
Brandye
Posted: 30 Sep 01:12
