Does anyone know anything about Herbs??

[Beauty]

I am starting Diet Center Tomorrow and I got these Herbal Pills that are supposed to help with my energy/metabolism....BUT with all the Effedra scares going on I don't know about taking them. I'm a little scared and I know NOTHING about herbs. So I'm going to list all these ingredients and hope someone here knows what they are and whether or not they are safe. Oh and I'm on Paxil and Synthroid. I am going to try to call my Dr. tomorrow and get his opinion but for now,

Vitamin A
Citrus Aurantium
Guarana
Panax Ginseng
Ginkgo Biloba
Gelatin
Cellulose
Calcium
Phosphate
Magnesium
Stearate
Silica

It also says,

Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) contains small amounts of alkaloids such as synephrine and octopamine which are direct and indirect acting adrenergenic agents. Adrenergenic agents with B-aonist activity stimulate lipolysis and increase the resting metabolic rate in some persons, thus increasing the removal and oxidation of fat from adipose tissue stores. The action is potentiated by methyl xanthine, suce as caffeine present in Guarana.

Okay what does that mean????

 

[tigercat]

Beauty do you have a problem with your thyroid? I see you are taking Synthroid. If you do ( I am being carefull and making sure) you should not be taking anything with Ginseng in it. As for some of the rest of the products, with the medication you are taking I would want to make absolutely sure that they will not be a problem. Gingo can be good but there are times where you should not take it. I used to manage a health food store and both of my kids work in the health food area. Herbs can be helpful and good (I can't take traditional medicine so have to take alternative medicine, except for my thyroid medicine) but they can also be harmful if taken by the wrong person..ie someone with medical problems. The problem is a lot of people that work in the health areas really don't know what the herbs and vitamins can do to people. You are right not to take anything with Effedra in it. If you have any other questions let me know. My dd's are really a wealth of information.
tigercat

 

[Beauty]

Thanks!!

So you would not recommend taking the Herbs. I think some other friend have talked me out of them as well. I'll just stick to the diet plan and supplements. Thank you so much!!!

Oh yes I do take .150 of Synthroid and 20mg. of Paxil daily.

 

[shortbun]

many hospitals these days have what is called a green pharmacist. These folks are trained to know or have info
on contraindications of herbs and AMA prescribed drugs.
Recently one was able to advise my sister after surgery
and keep her from a serious interaction. Consult a professional
is my advice.

 

[Kermit]

ANYTHING that messes with your metabolism is risky, whether it's a lab-manufactured drug or natural. Bitter orange is at least theoretically risky. It works the same way ephedra does, so it could cause the same problems. Consumer Reports published a list of 12 herbs that you should never take this month, and that was one of them. I've heard bad things about guarana, too, but I can't remember what right now.

There are reputable professionals out there who understand both herbs and conventional medicines. They can be hard to find sometimes, but they do exist. However, you probably aren't going to find one who will recommend you take anything for weight loss. It's just too risky.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Drink a cup of pepermint or rosemary tea in the mornings...it'll help your energy levels and metabolism. I don't know what all that stuff you listed equals, but when you want to do herbal supplements, it's best to just have the pure form of just ONE...that's why I always recomend the teas...that taste good and are healthy.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I believe that Bitter Orange is just as dangerous. Definitely tell your Dr. about that additive.

 

[Ella2]

Bitter orange is MOST DEFINITELY dangerous and is listed among the most dangerous herbal supplements out there. You are wise to avoid the herbal supplements.

12 dangerous dietary supplements identified by 'Consumer Reports'

By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

If they're natural, they must be safe, right? Not so, say researchers at Consumer Reports magazine.

In a report in the May issue, the consumer publication found a dozen herbal supplements - some banned in Asia, Europe and Canada but widely available in the USA - that may cause cancer, kidney or liver damage and even death.

They include:

• Aristolochia, linked to kidney failure and cancer.

• Yohimbe, linked to heart and respiratory problems.

• Bitter orange, similar to ephedra, the banned weight-loss supplement believed responsible for 155 deaths nationwide.

The researchers also cited chaparral, comfrey, germander, kava and scullcap, all of which are known or likely causes of liver failure; lobella because of its impact on the heart; and pennyroyal oil because of possible liver, kidney and nerve damage.

Two of these supplements have already been acted on by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites). Organ/glandular extracts are affected by FDA restrictions on the use of bovine materials in supplements because of the risk of mad cow disease.

And in March, then-FDA commissioner Mark McClellan warned companies to stop selling the bodybuilding supplement androstenedione (andro).

"A lot of people believe that herbal supplements are safe because they've been used for years in traditional medicine," says senior editor Nancy Metcalf. But "when they went looking for problems in China, they found plenty of them."

The findings highlight the lack of oversight. A 1994 law, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, has been seen as tying the hands of regulators because it requires the FDA to allow the sale of any supplement it cannot prove is unsafe.

But a recent report by the National Institutes of Medicine says flat out that the FDA doesn't need direct evidence of human harm to stop sales of dangerous supplements. It's enough to establish the danger using animal or test-tube studies, or even with reports of problems from similar products.

Manufacturers should be required to report side effects and include a phone number on packaging for consumers who want to do so, the panel said.

Meanwhile, the FDA has sent warning letters to 16 dietary-supplement distributors found to be making false and misleading claims on the Internet for weight-loss products. Many claim to block starch, carbohydrates and fat calories, creating weight loss without any lifestyle changes.

Not all supplements are snake oil, Consumer Reports says. It identified three that show possible benefits and low risks, including saw palmetto for benign enlarged prostate, glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis, and fish oil capsules for heart health.

 

[Beauty]

Thanks everyone!! I WILL NOT be taking these!! The supplements and vitamins are enough!!

 

[Figment22]

I think you're making the right choice by not taking the herbal supplements, especially if you're on other medications. The one I know for sure can cause high blood pressure in some people is ginkgo biloba. It had this effect on both my husband and my mom and both of their doctors advised them to get off it.

Good luck with your diet.