Feb
Find a good natural medicines book, or your local library or college library and look for the natural medicines database. Also many pharmacist can look them up for you, and pubmed.com should have resources for you.
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Good question! When in doubt, don't. sometimes you can Google both medicines (e.g., goldenseal and colloidal silver) and see if there are any contraindications. Also you could ask about them both on Y!A.
OH - and don't assume you can take herbals with western meds. So, for instance, you can't take St. John's Wort with antidepressants and some others… because it pretty much is an antidepressant and you'll be overdosing yourself.
When I make choices to take two things at once, I have to feel pretty confident of the risks/dangers because I don't want to have more problems!
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Ther are some good reference books on the market that one should have on hand at all times that will tell you what goes with what. One I believe is by a Doctor Weil(spelling?) Google him as well and I would invest in such a book if you feel you would like to take herbal meds on a regular basis.
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The others gave good answers
google your symptoms or diagnosis and see what they say to take for it
google the combination as the first reply said
google a herb or vitamin and optimizing supplements
If you keep studying and making lists you will start to recognize what works with what.
vitamin C, flavonoids, E, zinc and selenium all work together
B vitamins and memory supplements work together
with calcium you need to take magnesium and vitamin D.
***Do not take more than the bottle says,
You can take less but not more
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Go to a good health food or alternative medicine store and get PROFESSIONAL advice. It's the ONLY safe way to take herbal supplements!
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Anyone who is going to use herbs as medicines needs to invest in a good reference book or two. Most health food stores have a reference they will let you look at in the store.
There are not very many herbal medicines that clash with each other. However, there are a lot of herbal meds that certain people shouldn't use, or that can't be safely used in certain circumstances. So one must educate oneself. Be especially cautious if you are pregnant, nursing or have a disorder like epilepsy or high blood pressure.
For best results, don't try to fix everything at once. Focus on your biggest problem first. For instance, if you are fighting an infection, stick with it until it's resolved. Then you might look at supplements to help with hair loss or indigestion. I always take a new supplement for at least a couple of weeks before adding anything to it. That way if I have an adverse reaction I know what caused it.
Everyone's body is different and their tolerances will be different. I often "overdose" on Echinacea to ward off a cold. But even the standard (60 mg) Gingko extract is too strong and makes me have dizzy spells.
Some herbs work especially well together, like Echinacea & Goldenseal (immune system) or Gingko, Rosemary & Ginseng (memory) or Feverfew & White Willow (pain). You will pick up on some of this by reading supplement labels at the health food store.