One of the biggest mainstream misinformation myths takes a dent from…. the mainstream: ginko, garlic, ginseng and other herbs experimentally associated with antiplatelet activity therefore cause dangerous interactions in vivo because they will affect hemostasis etc etc etc NOT. More details to follow after getting the full text of this one...

The effect of herbal medicines on platelet function: an in vivo experiment and review of the literature
Beckert BW, Concannon MJ, Henry SL, Smith DS, Puckett CLPlast. Reconstr Surg. 2007 Dec;120(7):2044-50

BACKGROUND:: Herbal medicines are used by a considerable number of surgical patients. An increased risk of bleeding, substantiated by anecdotal reports, has been attributed to the use of certain herbs, and numerous in vitro experiments have identified some herbal extracts as platelet inhibitors. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether standard commercial preparations of commonly used herbal medicines have an effect on platelet function in vivo and, by extension, to provide clinical scientific evidence of the safety of their use in the perioperative period. METHODS:: Five commercially available herbal agents were investigated, including Ginkgo biloba, garlic, Asian ginseng, St. John’s wort, and saw palmetto. In a blinded fashion, one of the agents was administered to 10 adult volunteers at the manufacturer’s recommended dose for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2-week period, in vivo platelet function was quantified using the PFA-100 assay. After a 2-week “washout” period, the protocol was repeated using a different agent. This 4-week cycle was repeated for each of the five herbal agents, as well as the control agent aspirin. RESULTS:: In vivo platelet function was not affected by the administration of any herbal agent and was markedly inhibited with the administration of aspirin. CONCLUSIONS:: The herbal medicines investigated in this study do not affect platelet function in vivo. Neither this experiment nor a review of the literature supports the concern of perioperative bleeding in users of these herbal medicines.

PMID: 18090773 [PubMed - in process]

Just in time - Christmas stocking addition for the favorite practitioners in your life…..900+ pages dealing with 30 herbs, and more nutrients (see list of contents below) and thousands of references on a CDROM. Forward by Tieraona Low Dog (MD). The herbs monographs were all authored by yours truly, and the book is a steal at 79.95USD. Indispensable…..

Herb, Nutrient & Drug Interactions: Elsevier US Link

Table of Contents

Interactions Probability, Significance and Source Strength Guides
Section I: Herbs Interacting with Drugs

Aloe (Aloe vera)
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Cascara
Cayenne (Capsicum)
Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis)
Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)
Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Ephedra (Ephedra sinica)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parth.)
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Ginger (Zingiber off.)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
Ginseng, Chinese/Korean (Panax ginseng)
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)
Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Milk Thistle Seed (Silybum marianum)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Turmeric/Curcumin (Curcuma longa)
Valerian (Valeriana off.)
Vitex/Chaste (Vitex agnus-castus)

Section II: Nutrients Interacting with Drugs and Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletions

A. Vitamins
Beta-Carotene
Folic Acid
Vitamin A / Retinol
Vitamin B1 / Thiamine
Vitamin B2 / Riboflavin
Vitamin B3 / Niacin/Niacinamide
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C / Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin D / Calciferol
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
B. Minerals
Boron
Calcium
Chromium
Copper
Iron
Magnesium
Potassium
Selenium
Zinc
C. Amino Acids
Arginine
Carnitine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Tryptophan
Tyrosine
D. Nutriceuticals and Physiologics
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Chondroitin Sulfate
Coenzyme Q10
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
Glucosamine sulfate
Inositol
Melatonin
Omega 3 Fatty Acids (including Fish Oils: DHA and EPA)
PABA (Para-aminobenzoic Acid)
Policosanol
Probiotic Intestinal Flora and Prebiotics
S-adenosyl Methionine (SAMe)

Section III: Cross Indexes

A. Drugs by Trade Names
B. Drugs by Generic Names
C. Drugs by Drug Classes
Index