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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. |
