Alternative Herbal Therapies Nursing

Ginkgo biloba

• pros: memory enhancement

• cons: increased risk of bleeding (thins blood)

Ginseng

• pros: improved mental performance

• cons: increased risk of bleeding (thins blood)

Saw palmetto

• pros: benign prostatic hyperplasia

• cons: mild stomach discomfort, increased bleeding risk

Black cohosh

• pros: postmenopausal symptoms (hot flashes & vaginal dryness)

• cons: hepatic injury

St John’s wort

• pros: treatment for depression and insomnia

• cons: drug interactions for antidepressants (SSRIs → serotonin syndrome), oral corticosteroids, anticoagulants (decreased INR), digoxin; hypertensive crisis

Kava

• pros: anxiety, insomnia

• cons: severe liver damage

Licorice

• pros: stomach ulcers, bronchitis/viral infections

• cons: hypertension, hypokalemia

Echinacea

• pros: treatment & prevention of cold/flu

• cons: anaphylaxis (likely in asthmatics)

Ephedra

• pros: treatment of cold/flu, weight loss, improved athletic performance

• cons: hypertension, arrhythmia/MI/sudden death, stroke, seizure