its dangers. Ephedra should not be combined with theophylline, thyroid hormone,
tricyclic antidepressants, methylphenidate, or any other drugs that can cause
tachycardia or hypertension. Several states have banned supplements containing
ephedrine because of the dangers.
If you plan on regularly using herbal remedies, invest in a good herbal reference
guide to ensure proper information. One suggestion is James A. Duke’s book, The
Green Pharmacy(Rodale Press, 1997), or Daniel Mowrey’s book, Scientific Validation of
Herbal Medicine(Keats Pub, 1990), or consult with the one of the organizations in the
resource list. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides free access to 80,000
records on herb taxonomy and use of herbs worldwide, developed by Dr. James A.
Duke.
Traditional Chinese remedies are taken as an herbal drink. Many Americans, how-
ever, complain about the bitter taste and inconvenience of steeping the herbs for
hours at a time. Dr. James H. Zhou, formerly a professor at Yale University School of
Medicine and founder of HerbaSway, has developed a line of Chinese herbal teas
and elixirs in pleasant-tasting liquid concentrates that are becoming more popular
among Western consumers.
Getting More Information About Herbal Medicine
The American public is demanding more information about herbal remedies. In the
best of all worlds, consumers would have an educated professional—a nurse, a phar-
macist, or a doctor—to help guide them through the process of using herbal reme-
dies. That is the situation in Germany, where health care practitioners and
pharmacists must be knowledgeable about natural remedies, their approved uses,
their potential side effects, and how they should be prescribed. It has not been true
in the United States but is sure to change in the near future. Schools of nursing and
schools of medicine are including courses on alternative medicine in their curricu-
lum. The College of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago has become a
collaborating center with the World Health Organization’s traditional medicine pro-
gram and offers a required course in herbal therapy. The resources listed below can
also provide good information on selecting an herbal treatment program.
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