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User:
Ziki Dekel, LAc
Posts: 10
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I think the #1 reason why MDs tell their patients not to take herbs is because they don't know enough about them. We are an over-medicated population, so naturally they worry about drug interactions. Herbal medicinals are potent and some of them interact adversely with certain pharmaceuticals, but a Chinese herbalist has extensive training in drug-herb interactions and in pharmacology. MDs have no training in herbal medicine so they can't in good faith advise their patients to take herbs.
I think the best thing we can do is let our patients now that we are trained health-care professionals who take pharmaceuticals into account when we prescribe herbs. I hope some day MDs get training in herbal medicine, but until then patients should rest easy knowing their acupuncturists and herbalists are taking their entire medical history into account when prescribing herbs.
Post Date:08-24-2010 1:47 pm
Quoted By: Michelle Gregg
Thanks for clarifying that Ziki. I worked for an herbalist for several years and we always had our patients bring in all of their actual medications. That way the doc could see what they were taking and in that way know what was safe to give them. Very good point to bring up.
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