Tumblr Post: Herbal Medicines Can Be A Risky Business

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    Organism - @ vampireapologist-archive-deacti i think one of the most common dangers I run into in the edible and medicinal plant scene is the problem of "can you eat it" vs. “should you eat it" a lot of websites and books these days will be like “ten wild plants you can use to make tea" without then listing the actual use for those teas because all they care about is the novelty of making your own tea from things you picked in the woods. They tell you stuff like "A wonderfully cleansing medicine
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    Font - And people are so into the idea of cleansing their bodies of supposed toxins, that sounds great! But what I know is that what they really mean is, this plant is a diuretic, meaning if you use it for tea, you're going to peeing All. Day. Long. Every. Ten. Minutes. Which isn't fun if you're on a hike or about to get back in your car and drive an hour home.
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    Font - Some popular plants recommended for teas are used as contraceptives and morning after treatments. So here you are, trying to get pregnant, drinking your natural to rid your kidneys of impurities, being healthy as can be, and all along you're taking birth control! And if you're already taking birth control and trying to not get pregnant, the plant can mess you up too. There are plants that mess with antidepressants, and with blood pressure medicine, that make you sick to your stomach, that
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    Font - And all of these sources will just list them as something you can eat, because hey, you won't die if if you do! Which is true, you'll live, but at what cost!!! Please remember herbal remedies and edible plants have always been consumed and applied with a PURPOSE, and unless you know what that purpose is, don't consume them just because you can. It's a bad idea.
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    Font - jenniferrpovey Follow All of this. If you are on any kind of long-term medication, it's vital to check what herbs you should not consume. Don't count on your doctor to mention it...or even to know if you ask. St. John's wort, for example, interacts with oral contraceptives and thyroid medication. People have literally gotten pregnant because they took St. John's Wort for depression, not realizing it was rendering their birth control completely ineffective.
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    Font - Goldenseal is another one which tends to interact with medication. Another few don'ts to mix: Black cohosh and statins. Ginkgo and warfarin. Milk thistle and Valium Also, you should not mix some herbs with alcohol (black cohosh is one).
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    Font - Oh, and back to that black cohosh. Be reeeal careful with that stuff. It's a uterine stimulator. Some people find it helpful for menopausal symptoms and for dysmenorrhea, but don't take it while pregnant unless you are full term and it's on the advice of your midwife. Let me stress on the advice of your midwife here. People have messed themselves up with that stuff. If you're pregnant, talk to your midwife about what herbs you should not take and what ones you should take. (Ginger, for ex
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    Font - But remember. Herbs are medicines. Don't take medicines without knowing what they do. This includes herbs which are safe in culinary quantities, but not necessarily as teas. Rosemary comes to mind. #long post #medicinal herbs 63,597 notes

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