Table of Contents

Preface xi

Contributors xiii

Part I Introduction and Overview 1

1 Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine 3
Catherine A. Hammett-Stabler

2 Relatively Safe Herbal Remedies 19
Angela M. Ferguson and Uttam Garg

3 Risk of Toxicity Associated with Unregulated Herbal Products 45
Steven W. Cotten

Part II Effects of Herbal Remedies On Specific Organ Systems 73

4 Herbal Medicines with Immunomodulatory Effects 75
Jeffrey K. Actor

5 Kelp and Thyroid Function 125
Bruce Rosenzweig

6 Herbal Remedies and the Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease 135
Mariana S. Markell

7 Abnormal Liver Function Tests Due to Hepatotoxic Herbs 155
Amitava Dasgupta and Catherine A. Hammett-Stabler

8 Homeopathic Medicine: Principle, Effi cacy, and Toxicity 169
Amitava Dasgupta

9 Indian Ayurvedic Medicines: An Introduction 193
Amitava Dasgupta

10 Tradition and Perspectives of Greco-Arab and Islamic Herbal Medicine 209
Bashar Saad and Omar Said

11 Licorice and Laboratory Tests 255
Salvador F. Sena

Part III Drug Interactions 273

12 Drug Interactions with St. John’s Wort 275
Matthew D. Krasowski and John L. Blau

13 Drug–Herb Interactions in Patients with HIV/AIDS 291
Natella Y. Rakhmanina and John N. van den Anker

14 Interactions between Fruit Juices and Drugs 305
Amitava Dasgupta

15 Drug Interactions with Ginkgo Biloba and Ginseng 321
Ashok Tholpady and Semyon A. Risin

16 Drug Interactions with Garlic and Ginger Supplements 333
Charbel Abou-Diwan and James Ritchie

Part IV Contamination 351

17 Heavy Metal Toxicity and Herbal Remedies 353
Christine L. H. Snozek and Loralie J. Langman

18 Adulteration of Herbal Remedies with Conventional Drugs: Role of the Clinical Laboratory 369
Uttam Garg and Angela M. Ferguson

19 Beyond Herbals: An Introduction to Poisonous Plants 387
Catherine A. Hammett-Stabler

Part V Analytical Implications 405

20 Interferences of Herbal Remedies with Immunoassays for Therapeutic Drugs: Focus on Digoxin 407
Amitava Dasgupta

21 Role of the Clinical Laboratory in Detecting Plant Poisoning 425
Ronald W. McLawhon

Index 443 

About the Author

Amitava Dasgupta is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and the director of clinical chemistry, toxicology, and point of care testing at the Memorial Hermann Hospital, the main teaching hospital of the medical school. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry and a prolific author and editor. Catherine A. Hammett-Stabler is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the Director of the Core Laboratory of the McLendon Clinical Laboratories, UNC Health Care. Dr. Hammett-Stabler has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books.

Reviews

"This is a wonderful addition to the field of laboratory medicine.You need this book if you ever have to answer questions on howherbal supplements affect clinical laboratory tests." (Doody's, 23September 2011) "Summing Up: Recommended. Medical students and clinicians."(Choice, 1 August 2011) "Even though Americans rely increasingly on alternativemedicine, herbal and traditional remedies do not undergo thetesting for safety and efficacy as pharmaceutical drugs. In thisbook, editors Dasgupta (pathology and laboratory medicine, U. ofTexas Medical School at Houston) and Hammett-Stabler (pathology andlaboratory medicine, U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) present abalanced and comprehensive introduction to herbal supplements,emphasizing the pharmacological interactions between herbalsupplements and Western pharmaceuticals". (Booknews, 1 June2011)