Herb-Drug Interactions
Herbs with higher risk of adverse reactions
John K. Chen, Ph.D., Pharm., O.M.D., L.Ac.
Evergreen Herbs and Medical Supplies, LLC
17431 East Gale Ave. City of Industry, CA 91748
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Difficulty/Impossible to predict interactions
Gadually increase the dose of the herbs;
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Rapid onset of enzyme inhibition (takes
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Prevent ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity due to
Guang Fang Ji (Radix Aristolochiae
Compound injection with Huang Qi (Radix
Astragali) and Lu Han Cao (Herba Pyrolae)
Guan Mu Tong (Caulis Aristolochiae
May prevent ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity
Ma Dou Ling (Fructus Aristolochiae)
Qing Mu Xiang (Radix Aristolochiae)
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Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim)
Augmentin (amoxilicillin & clauvulanate p.)
Vicodin (hydrocodon & acetaminophen)
Tylenol #3 (codeine & acetaminophen)
cocktail approach to treating HIV & cancer.
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Eighteen Incompatibles (Shi Ba Fan)
Rx Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao) is Rhizoma et Radix Veratri (Li Lu) is
Radix Euphorbiae Kansui (Gan Sui),
Radix Euphorbiae seu Knoxiae (Da Ji)
Wu Ling Zhi (Excrementum Trogopteri seu
Rz Aconiti (Wu Tou) is incompatible with
Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae (Chuan
Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Dan Shen)
Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii (Zhe Bei
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Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 19-24
Nineteen Counteractions (Shi Jiu Wei)
Sulfur (Liu Huang) & Mirabilitum (Mang Xiao)
Mercury (Shui Yin) & Arsenolite (Pi Shuang)
Rhizoma Euphorbiae E. (Lang Du) & Lithargyrum (Mi Tuo Seng)
Semen Crotonis (Ba Dou) & Semen Pharbitidis (Qian Niu Zi)
Flos Caryphylli (Ding Xiang) & Radix Curcumae (Yu Jin)
Nitrum (Ya Xiao) & Rhizoma Sparganii (Shan Ling)
Cornu Rhinoceri (Xi Jiao) & Rz. Aconiti Kusnezoffii (Cao Wu)
Cornu Rhinoceri (Xi Jiao) & Rhizoma Aconiti (Chuan Wu)
Radix Ginseng (Ren Shen) & Rhizoma Trogopterorum (Wu Ling
Cortex Cinnamomi (Rou Gui) & Hallositum Rubrum (Chi Shi Zhi)
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 19-24
Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae)
Blocks the re-cycling process of vitamin K
Dang Gui (Radicis Angelicae Sinensis)
Slow onset of action, long duration of action
Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong)
Caution w/ anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Dan Shen) with
Potential interaction with any other anti-
Increase in AUC (area under the curve)
Potential interaction with OTC drugs, dietary
Potential adverse reaction with acupuncture
Potential interactions with Chinese herbs
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Zhi Mu (Radix Anemarrhenae) and
Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae) and
Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis)
Huang Qi (Radix Astragali) and
Use with caution with antidiabetic drugs
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
Sedatives: Herbs that calm shen (spirit)
often potentiates the sedative effect of
[Note: Many categories of drugs induce sedation, such as
antihistamines, narcotic analgesics, barbiturates, benzodiazepines and others.]
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 25-30
General effect: Ma Huang contains
Stimulant effect:
Ma Huang should not be combined with
cardiovascular system. Combining Ma
ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, theophylline,
Huang with cardiac glycosides may lead to
(MAOI), or substances with similar properties.
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Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 36
Beta blockers: The effect of beta blockers
Acetaminophen: Niu Bang Gen (Radix
may be reduced when combined with Ma
Arctii) has marked hepatoprotective effects.
Huang because of increased levels of
Niu Bang Gen suppressed the elevated
SGOT and SGPT levels induced by carbon tetrachloride or acetaminophen in a dose-dependent manner. It also alleviated the
[Note: Examples of beta blockers include atenolol
(Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor/Toprol), sotalol
(Betapace), propranolol (Inderal), and labetalol (Normodyne/Trandate).]
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Acetaminophen:
Tolbutamide: It was demonstrated in one
study that the formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang
The mechanism of this hepatoprotective
action is based on the antioxidative effect of
bioavailability of tolbutamide after oral
Niu Bang Gen on hepatocytes, hence
eliminating the deleterious effects of toxic
Xiao Chai Hu Tang was found to accelerate
metabolites from carbon tetrachloride or
the initial absorption rate, reduce the area
under the plasma concentration-time curve, and decrease the overall bioavailability of tolbutamide.18
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Interferon: It has been reported that increased
Antibiotics: Concurrent use of baicalin, a
risk of acute pneumonitis may be associated with
flavone isolated from Huang Qin, was found
use of interferon, Xiao Chai Hu Tang, or both in
to have synergistic antibiotic effect with
beta-lactam antibiotics, such as ampicillin,
Among patients with chronic hepatitis or liver
amoxicillin, methicillin and cefotaxime.
cirrhosis, the frequency of drug-induced
The addition of baicalin restored the
effectiveness of these drugs against beta-
0.5% in those given only interferon-alpha
lactam-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and
0.7% in those given only Xiao Chai Hu Tang
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).15
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Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 137
Guan Ye Lian Qiao (Herba Hypericum)
SSRI’s: Since St. John’s Wort and SSRI
Da Qing Ye (Folium Isatidis), Ban Lan Gen (Radix
Isatidis) and Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis)
Sulfonylureas: tolbutamide (Orinase), glipizide
drug may lead to “serotonin syndrome” with
(Glucotrol), and glyburide (DiaBeta/Micronase)
Sulfonamides: sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole,
sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim/Septra), and erythromycin/sulfisoxazole (Pediazole).]
[Note: Examples of SSRI’s include fluoxetine (Prozac),
paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa), and fluvoxamine (Luvox).]
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 176
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 208-211
Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata)
Chuan Wu (Radix Aconiti Preparata)
Antiarrhythmics: Patients who have a past
Antiarrhythmics: Patients who have a past
history of cardiovascular disorders or are
history of cardiovascular disorders or are
taking antiarrhythmic medications should
taking antiarrhythmic medications should
take Fu Zi with extreme caution.13
take Chuan Wu with extreme caution.10
[Note: Examples of antiarrhythmics include quinidine,
[Note: Examples of antiarrhythmics include quinidine,
procainamide (Pronestyl), disopyramide (Norpace),
procainamide (Pronestyl), disopyramide (Norpace),
flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), and
flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), and
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 438
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 442
Cao Wu (Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii)
Antiarrhythmics: Patients who have a past
history of cardiovascular disorders or are
taking antiarrhythmic medications should take Cao Wu with extreme caution.5:
[Note: Examples of antiarrhythmics include quinidine,
procainamide (Pronestyl), disopyramide (Norpace), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), and amiodarone (Cordarone).]
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 445
Copyright 2004. Chen and Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Page: 438
Educate and general public on the effect of
Herb-Drug Interactions
Increase education and training among
Regulation of herbs as “traditional medicine”
John K. Chen, Ph.D., Pharm., O.M.D., L.Ac.
Evergreen Herbs and Medical Supplies, LLC
17431 East Gale Ave. City of Industry, CA 91748
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