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Mumbai: When a
corporate executive recently landed in the emergency
ward of Mumbai’s Hiranandani Hospital with palpitations,
doctors first checked his heart. When tests ruled out
any cardiac problem, they found an unlikely culprit: too
many cups of green tea. “After talking to him, we
realised he had had over a dozen cups of green tea
within the span of a few hours,’’ said cardiologist
Ganesh Kumar.
Some brands of green tea contain caffeine, an agent
that boosts heart rate. “Green tea is supposed to a
natural agent to control blood pressure, weight, etc,
but everything has to be consumed in the right
measure,’’ Kumar added.
As the natural revolution gains in popularity,
doctors believe it’s time to sound a health warning,
especially to patients already on various allopathic
medications. Studies have shown seemingly harmless
supplements can have dangerous side-effects when
consumed in excess.
The healthy spice, garlic, is a natural way to keep
blood pressure in check, but it may not always be the
right dose for those taking blood-thinning pills; it
could worsen bleeding disorders.
SIDE-DEFECTS?
Garlic can keep BP in check but can worsen bleeding
disorders
Saw palmetto, extract of berries, control hair fall but
can cause hormonal side-effects
Chondroitin, derived from hooves of cattle, helps
osteoarthritis patients, but could worsen bleeding
during operations
Ephedra (somlata herb) can help asthma & bronchitis
patients, but raise BP
Glucosamine has chemicals that mimic insulin but may
cause hypoglycaemia (low sugar) during surgery ‘Nuska’
now food for thought?
Mumbai: The jury is now out on the apparently beneficial
and harmless herbal supplements. While doctors say they
could be triggering off adverse reactions in the body as
side-effects when consumed in excess, nutritionists
smell a ploy. “There are no side-effects to natural
supplements. It is all a ploy of the pharmaceutical
industry to check the growing popularity of natural
herbs and supplements,’’ said nutritionist Naini
Setalvad.
According to nutritionist Shilpa Joshi, people
should always inform their doctors about the supplements
they are taking. “We take natural or Ayurvedic stuff
thinking these are ghar ka nuska, but if taken with
other medications and in high concentrations, it can be
potent. If we consult doctors on such issues, the doctor
can change the dosages of either his medication or give
the right amount of supplements that is needed for the
patient concerned.’’
Most Indian patients have their grandmother’s nuska
packed in their medicinal chest, and use haldi as a
disinfectant or ginger as an antiseptic. Orthopaedic
surgeon Dr Sanjeev Agarwala, who heads the department at
Hinduja Hospital, “We are more comfortable with natural
supplements than with proprietary (branded) drugs
because of our heritage that is steeped in ayurveda. But
there is little scientific evidence to support this
belief.”
Fenugreek seeds, for instance, are the easiest way
to control the release of sugar into the bloodstream.
But, as nutritionist Shilpa Joshi has found among
diabetic patients, the tendency is to be liberal in
using the methi seeds.
The latest edition of ‘Alternative and Complementary
Therapies’ has pharmacist Catherine Ulbricht from
Massachusetts General Hospital spelling out the
potential dangers of mixing herbal supplements and
therapeutic agents; their interaction can diminish or
increase drug levels. “‘Natural’ does not equal ‘safe,’”
she said. “If something has a therapeutic action in a
human body, this substance can also cause a reaction or
an interaction,” she added |
