Are herbal medicines safe

[Cayley]

Hello

Been recently diagnosed with auto immune hepatitis suddenly. Was asked if I was taking any herbal medicines. Has anyone been taking rhodiola or sea buckthorn oils . I have been taking them for years

[Hidden]

Good morning,

Most complementary and alternative medicines or treatments are based on principles and an evidence base that are not recognised by the majority of independent scientists. At present, healthcare professionals are not clear on the role and place of some therapies in managing liver disease. More research needs to be done on the use of such therapies.

Many products are not classified as a medicine and therefore are not licensed, which means you cannot be sure how much of the active ingredient you are getting or how pure it is. Traditional herbal medicines do not have to undergo the stringent regulatory processes that medical drugs have to; therefore manufacturers do not have to prove effectiveness in well-designed large trials.

It is wise to be cautious about the claims made for herbal remedies, particularly those advertised on the internet, as they can offer false hope ans may do harm..

Please do not take these remedies before discussing them with your doctor.

regards

[AyrshireK]

I have just read up on the 'herbal remedies' you've been taking. One of the listed potential side effects of Rhodiola is "Autoimmune diseases: Rhodiola might simulate the immune system. In theory, it might worsen autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and others."

Sea Buckthorn Oil lists side effects such as blood thinning & slow blood clotting, extra bleeding during surgery also not particularly helpful.

I hope you told the investigating doctor about the use of these 'herbals' because the Rhodiola could well have been the 'trigger' for your AIH.

"The cause of most cases of Autoimmune Hepatitis is not clear; but is thought to be a mixture of:

autoimmunity – the process of your immune system making autoantibodies, which ‘attack’ and damage your body’s own cells and organs

environmental triggers – causes starting outside of the body; for example getting a virus, taking certain medications, or coming into contact with other toxins

genetic predisposition – inheriting genes which may make it easier for a trigger to set off the disease."

I hope they get your condition under control.

Katie