epitome-o-awkward:

valkyraven:

A note.

I see a lot of people posting herbal remedies.

Please, please include the cautions and contradictions with an herb when you recommend it.

Herbs are drugs. Some of them should not be used by pregnant or nursing women (kava kava comes to mind).

Valerian is not a substitute for narcotic sleep aids. Valerian is a narcotic sleep aid.

St. John’s wort messes up the action of oral contraceptives.

Marshmallow root should not be mixed with other medicines or taken at the same time as it can interfere with their action.

Catnip (used for sleep problems) can make already heavy menstrual periods worse.

Etc, etc, etc. Please remember you are recommending medicines and medicines can have effects other than the ones you want.

As a pharmacy student…

THIS. THIS ALL RIGHT HERE.

Herbs are Drugs, just in a less pure/less effective form. They can and will interact with things, and can/will cause side effects like any medication will.

Let your doctors know if you’re on any herbals. They count!