medicinal herbs and botanicals 87Name Common Uses/Benefits Risks/Side Effects
MILK THISTLE(Silybum marianum) protect the LIVERfrom damage due to CIRRHOSIS, interferes with insulin therapy for diabetes
chronic HEPATITIS, mushroom poisoning, and
DRUGpoisoning
PHYTOESTROGENS relieve menopausal discomforts and may diminish fertility
PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME(PMS) symptoms may increase risk of certain kinds of
lower blood cholesterol breast cancer
enhance BONE DENSITYand STRENGTHto prevent
osteoporosis
possibly prevent prostate cancer and some kinds
of BREAST CANCER
SAME(S-adenosylmethionine) relieve mild to moderate DEPRESSION may cause insomnia and gastrointestinal
relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis, back pain, upset
and CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME interferes with monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants
SAW PALMETTO(Sabal serrulata) stop PROSTATE GLANDfrom enlarging may interfere with some treatment for
relieve symptoms of benign PROSTATIC prostate cancer
HYPERPLASIA(BPH)
soy lower LDL cholesterol, reduce risk for CAD may cause gastrointestinal upset
reduce risk for osteoporosis, prostate cancer, may increase risk for certain estrogen-
and certain breast cancers driven breast cancers
relieve menopausal discomforts, especially
hot flashes
ST. JOHN’SWORT(hypericum relieve mild to moderate depression increases sensitivity to the sun and
perforatum) ultraviolet light
interferes with some chemotherapy agents,
HIV/AIDS medications, immunosuppres-
sive drugs, and selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and MAOI
antidepressants
SUN’SSOUP slow metastasis of non-small cell LUNG CANCER none known
(NSCLC)
reduce HIV/AIDSsymptoms and progression
VALERIAN(Valeriana officinalis) sleep aid may cause excessive drowsiness in
relieves anxiety combination with other substances and
medications that also cause drowsiness
YOHIMBE/YOHIMBINE treat ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION may cause elevated blood pressure
(Pausinystalia yohimbe) aphrodisiac interferes with MAOI antidepressants
interacts with foods containing tyramine