Name
|
Used For
|
Known Effects
|
Adverse Reactions
|
| Kava Kava |
Anxiety |
Anxiolytic |
Additive effects with central nervous system depressants, hepatotoxicity |
| Ephedra (Mahuang) |
Asthma, stimulant, appetite suppressant |
Adrenergic agonist |
Heart attack, seizure, psychosis |
| Valerian |
Sleep aid |
Appears to be mediated through gamma-aminobutyric acid and benzodiazepine pathway |
Additive effects with barbiturates and benzodiazepines, withdrawal syndrome |
| St. John’s Wort |
Depression, seasonal affective disorder, and anxiety55 |
Inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and L-glutamine in vitro |
Interacts with the drug metabolizing enzyme CYP 3A4, lowers efficacy of irinotecan and tamoxifen, among others |
| Passionflower |
Insomnia, anxiety, epilepsy, neuralgia, and opiate or benzodiazepine withdrawal |
May cause activation of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors |
May potentiate the sedative effect of centrally acting substance |
Ginkgo biloba
|
Dementia, peripheral vascular disorders, sexual dysfunction, and hearing loss
|
Improves cognition, activities of daily living, and mood and emotional function
|
A few case reports of spontaneous bleeding and seizures
|
|
| *Not recommended for cancer patients. |
