“It’s just herbal… it’s safe.”
How many times have we heard this?
With the growing popularity of herbal supplements, more patients are adding them to their daily routine — often alongside multiple prescription medicines. The problem? Most don’t mention it during consultations. And that silence can be risky.
In polypharmacy cases, even a small interaction can make a big difference.
Some herbs can change how medicines are metabolized in the liver. For example, St. John’s Wort is known to reduce the effectiveness of certain drugs by speeding up their breakdown. On the other hand, herbs like Garlic and Ginkgo biloba may increase bleeding risk when taken with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs.
The real challenge? Herbal products are not always strictly standardized. The amount of active ingredient can vary, and labeling may not always reflect the exact composition. That makes predicting interactions even harder.
As pharmacists, we are the medication safety gatekeepers. Asking one simple question —
“Are you taking any herbal or over-the-counter supplements?” —
can prevent serious complications.
Because in healthcare, “natural” does not automatically mean “harmless.”
Safe therapy requires complete information.
And awareness is the first step toward prevention.