Although we do carry herbs in capsule form, we carry a full spectrum of liquid extracts. Liquid extracts are better absorbed, potent, and easier to dose.

• Pure Herbs

• Butterfly Express
  

• Karuna
  

• Herb Pharm
  

• Gaia Herbs
  

• Professional Formulas (as needed in a clinical setting)
  

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Medication checker

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Drug-Herb Conflicts

Herb	Drug	Contraindication
Bladderwrack	Hyperthyroid medication	May decrease effectiveness of drug due to natural iodine content.
Bladderwrack	Thyroid replacement therapies	May add to effect of drug.
Bugleweed	Radioactive iodine	May interfere with administration of diagnostic procedures using radioactive isotopes.
Bugleweed	Thyroid hormones	Should not be administered concurrently with preparations containing thyroid hormone.
Chaparral	Sulfur drugs, cortisone, chemo drugs	Interacts negatively with drugs, especially with sulfur drugs, cortisone and chemotherapy agents.
Dan Shen	Warfarin	May potentiate effect of drug.
Echinacea	Immunosuppressant medication	May decrease effectiveness of drug.
Garlic	Warfarin	May potentiate effect of drug.
Ginger	Warfarin	Increased risk of spontaneous bleeding, particularly at levels greater than 4 gms/day ginger.
Gotu Kola		Accelerates the action of penicillin and sulfur drugs. allow at least 2 hours between the two.
Green Tea, Chamomile, Lime Flower, Vervain Rosemary, & other herbs high in polyphenols	Iron	Inhibition of non-heme iron absorption where iron supplementation is required; do not take simultaneously with meals or iron supplements.
Korean (Panax) Ginseng	MAO inhibitors	May cause headaches and tremor, mania.
Licorice	Anti-hypertensive medications	May decrease effectiveness of drug when licorice consumed long-term at doses greater than 100 mg/day glycyrrhizin.
Licorice	Digoxin	Excessive licorice intake causes hypo-kalemia, which can potentiate the toxicity of the drug; therefore avoid long-term use of licorice at doses greater than 100 mg/day glycyrrhizin.
Licorice	Thiazide diuretics and other potassium depleting drugs	The combined effect of licorice and the drug could result in excessive potassium loss; avoid long-term use of licorice at doses greater than 100 mg/day glycyrrhizin.
Nervine and “mood altering” formulas (Valerian, Passion Flower, Wood Betony, Scullcap, Hops, Kava Kava, St John’s Wort)	Anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anxiety drugs, tranquilizers, sleep medications	Allow at least 3 to 4 hours between psychiatric or anti-psychotic drugs or mood altering drugs.
St John’s Wort	Chemotherapeutic drugs	Decreases drug levels.
St John’s Wort	Digoxin	Decreases drug levels at doses greater than 1 g/day dried herb.
St John’s Wort	HIV non-nucleoside transcriptase inhibitors	Decreases drug levels.
St John’s Wort	Immunosuppressives	Decreases drug levels.
St John’s Wort	HIV protease inhibitors	Decreases drug levels.
St John’s Wort	Phenprocoumon	Decreases plasma drug levels.
St John’s Wort	Warfarin	Decreases drug levels.

 

SAFE HERBS DURING PREGNANCY AND WHILE NURSING

Bilberry: will fortify vein and capillary support, aids in kidney function and is a mild diuretic for bloating

Blue Cohosh: stops and eliminates false labor pains; for final weeks of pregnancy, to ease and/or induce labor

Burdock Root: helps prevent water retention and jaundice in the baby

Chamomile: aids digestive and bowel problems and relaxes for good sleep.
Echinacea: aids the immune system to help prevent colds, flu and infections

Ginger Root: excellent for morning sickness

Lobelia: helps to relax the mother during delivery and helps speed up the delivery of the placenta

Nettles: will guard against excessive bleeding as it has vitamin K in it; it will improve kidney function and help prevent hemorrhoids

Peppermint: after the first trimester, may be used to help digestion, soothe the stomach and overcome nausea. It is an over-all body strengthener and cleanser

Red Raspberry: it is an all-around excellent herb to use for pregnancy. It is a uterine tonic, anti-abortive, and helps prevent infection. It also aids in preventing cramps and anemia. Prevents excessive bleeding during and after labor and will facilitate the birth process by stimulating contractions.

Wild Yam: for pregnancy pain, nausea or cramping and will lessen miscarriage

Yellow Dock: aids in iron assimilation and will help to prevent infant jaundice
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Bowel: Psyllium with a good amount of water. Cascara Sagrada - start with a very small amount and increase if needed. Do not take so much that it causes cramping or diarrhea.

Build Mother's Milk: Blessed Thistle, Red Raspberry Leaf, Cell Salts, Fenugreek

Cough, Congestion: YS Formula

Depression: Skunk Cabbage

Infection: Echinacea (take two weeks, then off one week), Colloidal Silver, Olive Leaf

Kidney: Fluid Retention: Buchu

Nausea: Red Raspberry Leaf, Spearmint, Peppermint Leaf (not oil) Ginger, Peach Leaf (take in small amounts as it can have laxative effect)

Nerves: Chamomile, Valerian Root

Pregnancy Support Cell Salts

Stomach:Dandelion Root

Thyroid: Dulse, Cell Salts (a lack of iodine in mother's system can cause Down's Syndrome)

Weaning: Sage or Parsley will assist drying up milk production

HERBS TO BE AVOIDED DURING PREGNANCY

The following herbs should not be used during pregnancy.
Aloe Vera, Whole Leaf: use externally only
Alfalfa: in high amounts as it can stimulate hormones
Angelica: can cause uterine contractions
Barberry
Black Cohosh, or any herb that has hormone effect
Buckthorn
Cascara Sagrada
Chestnut Leaf
Cinchona: Cinchona and its alkaloids should be avoided in pregnancies because of their oxytocic effects
Coffee: avoid caffeine, as it irritates the uterus; excessive amounts in some sensitive individuals can cause premature birth or miscarriage
Coltsfoot
Dandelion Root (while nursing)
Dong Quai
Eucalyptus oil: should be avoided during pregnancy as it is difficult to eliminate through the kidneys
Feverfew: has been shown to stimulate menses in some women, and may therefore precipitate miscarriage
Gentian
Golden Seal
Juniper: a too-strong vasodilating, diuretic effect
Lovage: causes uterine contractions
Ma Huang (Ephedra): should be avoided during pregnancy as it has too strong of an antihistamine effect; also raises pulse rate and blood pressure
Mathake
Male Fern: too strong a vermifuge
Mandrake
Milkweed: avoid internally
Mistletoe: can cause uterine contractions
Mugwort: stimulates uterine contractions and can be toxic in large doses
Myrrh
Parsley: in nursing mothers will dry up milk
Pennyroyal: can cause abortion of the unborn child
Poke root: should be avoided during pregnancy as it is a powerful emetic
Rue: can cause abortion
Safflower
Saffron
Sage: in nursing mothers will dry up milk
Senna
Schizandra Berry
Shatavari
Shepherds Purse: too astringent; may be used for after-birth bleeding
Suma:- use with caution
Tansy: can cause uterine contractions
Thuja
Turkey Rhubarb
Wild Ginger: an emmenagogue that causes uterine contractions
Wormwood: stimulates uterine contractions and can be toxic in large doses
Yarrow: a strong astringent and mild abortifacient (may cause abortion of the unborn child)

HERBS TO BE LIMITED DURING PREGNANCY

The herbs listed below should not be taken except by the recommendation of your herbalist, and in limited amounts, and then with caution, and then perhaps only in combinations.
Black Cohosh: use only the final weeks of pregnancy; will ease and/or induce labor.
False Unicorn: use only the final weeks of pregnancy; will ease and/or induce labor.
Golden Seal: large amounts can cause uterine contractions.
Pennyroyal: this herb can cause abortion; may be used in final weeks.
NOTE: The following herbs will move the bowels and should be used very sparingly or in combinations.
•    Aloe Vera
•    Barberry
•    Buckthorn
•    Cascara Sagrada
•    Mandrake
•    Turkey Rhubarb
•    Senna
Strong laxatives should be used with discretion as they cause stomach and intestinal cramping