Golden Box Book Publishing Asthma Relief with Grandmas Remedies | Page 34

through her transparent skin. I asked her, and she confirmed my
suspicion, telling me that she indeed had been diagnosed with atrial
fibrillation and high blood pressure, and was taking Digoxin,
Coumadin, and Lopressor for these conditions.
I advised her not to take the licorice because it contains the
ingredient glycyrrhizin. Taking it together with Digoxin can produce
dangerously irregular heart rhythms, and even cardiac arrest. The
combination can also cause dangerously low potassium levels,
resulting in numbing weakness, muscle pain, and even paralysis.
Licorice can also interact with blood pressure medication or any beta
and calcium channel blockers. She was horrified. She thanked me,
and she placed the bottle back on the shelf quickly.
I found the young clerk and when I told him about the interactions,
he turned pale. “I didn’t know, I’m so sorry. I just read the
information on the bottle,” he mumbled. “I will never, ever give
advice to anyone again. I will send them to their doctor,” he
promised. I sent a long email to the store, which they ignored. The
next time I did not see the young clerk when I went shopping.
People are not aware of many herb-medication interactions. The
reasons for that are not enough research and not enough education.
Health food stores cannot afford hiring an Herbalist or Alternative
Medicine Practitioner to help customers. The store clerks are not
educated of the side effects and most importantly the interactions of
herbs and supplements.
Research the herbs before you decide to use them, or ask advice
from a qualified doctor or Herbalist who is familiar with both
modern medicine and herbs.
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