By Amy Patterson-Neubert Journal and Courier
Cancer patients may feel heir less as their bodies gather what energy is available to fight off the rapid growth of malignant cell: while chemotherapy treatments toxic chemicals – are pumped in their veins.
After various prescription medications and chemotherapy treatments, Dr. Nancy DiMartino hears from some patients, “Is there anything else. I can do,” when the co ventional treatments have failed.
DiMartino then informs her patients of herbal supplements which are one of the leading a1ternative therapies that consume seek when they feel they have exhausted conventional resources are interested in wellness and prevention.
Herbal consumption is one the leading therapies in the segment of complementary health care. Patients are ingesting herbs, which come from plants and have a medical, savory or aromatic use, to prevent diseases, fight depression or alleviate symptoms.
In 1996, $3.24 billion was spent on the herbal industry, according to Kathy Pickerill, a pharmacist at Home Hospital. In the same year, only a third of the individuals who were taking herbs informed their physician. In 2000, the Journal of I he American Medical Association’ (JAMA) reported that patients did not inform their doctors about 60 percent of unconventional therapies, including herbs.
Shirley Pepple, 62, has battled ovarian cancer since 1996. It reoccurred in March 1998, so she started chemotherapy again. And she also began to consume a sampling herbal supplements that she had read were beneficial for cancer patients. She didn’t tell her oncologist, DfMartino, for eight months.
“At first I was reluctant to say anything to Dr. Di,” Pepple said.
Then she shared with her doctor that she was taking antioxidants, MGM3 to help with her immune system vitamins and minerals.
“I am probably living today because of these extra things. We feel like it’s a combination of things,” said Pepple, who still receives chemotherapy once a month.
During DiMartino’s 22-year career, many patients have approached her about options that include herbal supplements.
“My early interest with herbal supplements started from patients who were trying complementary and alternative medicines because physicians said, ‘I can’t help you.’ The patient would say, ‘I want to live,’ ” DiMartino said.
But supervising herbal supplement intake by patients demands some extra work on the doctor’s part. DiMartino keeps up to date with research and refers to her Physician Desk Reference on herbs daily. She encourages patients to start supplements gradually, then she monitors their kidneys and livers. Sometimes patients are encouraged just by starting a daily vitamin.
“Many healing traditions are prevalent all over the planet except here,” DiMartino said.
But when patients fail to consult their physician about what they are ingesting, side effects and drug interactions with herbals may occur.
Combinations that should be avoided are blood thinners including ginkgo biloba and vitamin’ E, if taken with aspirin. Such a combination can inhibit blood clotting. Other concerns are relative to anesthesia that may be administered in the dentist’s office. For example, a calming supplement such as kava kava or St. John’s. wort can interact with the effects of anesthesia. The Academy of General Dentistry suggests patients inform dentists about all herbal supplement consumption.
Dandelion and bearberry are herbal supplements that are identified to work as a diuretic. When taken with a prescription diuretic, they may over enhance the interaction, leading to dehydration, loss of potassium and disruption of the heart rhythm.
Another concern for pharmacists is that herbals are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as conventional drugs are. The unknowns of what is packaged in various bottles of herbs keep Dennis McCallian, owner of Family
Pharmaflare in West Lafayette, from stocking them on his pharmacy shelves. While many pharmacies, especially those in chains, offer an herb du jour, McCallian works with a pharmaceutical supplier so he and his staff may supervise the compounding for natural herbal supplements, nutrients, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.
”We think there is a value to those items. We have a limited variety of items,” McCallian said. . When needed, a physician may send the patient in with an “order.” The pharmacist might make a suggestion and confer with the physician.
“We are a conservative, objective and informed source for items. We base these on basic science, not hyped advertising,” McCallian said. “We are not here to fill somebody’s shopping cart.”
Dr. Angelica Kokkalis, an Oriental and medical doctor, relies on traditional Chinese medicine compounds that she special orders from Health Concerns in California.
For example, when patients are seeking a supplement to promote strong bones, she doesn’t recommend calcium or magnesium. These minerals are used in Chinese medicine for muscle spasms. Instead, Kokkalis would recommend a supplement with 15 herbs that includes ingredients to invigorate the blood to encourage bones to grow.
A currently popular herb is St. John’s wort. Kokkalis doesn’t recommend St. John’s wort for a patient with depression, because she generally treats patients with major depression. St. John’s wort, a plant with yellow flowers; is promoted as a natural way to improve mood and mild depression, Instead Kokkalis would recommend Calming the Spirit-Supplement (Xin Wan), which alleviates stress, anxiety and depression.
Calming the Spirit is composed of nine herbs, including biota, peony, fu-shen, polygala and zizyptius. Enzymes are also taken to aid in digestion of the supplement.
Whether St. John’s wort is effective in helping moderate depression is not clear. Researchers are not certain which ingredients are active. The National Institute of Mental Health said some evidence has suggested that hyperforin in St. John’s wort may affect mood. Many European studies have determined the herb is beneficial, but the studies had limitations. So the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the’ Office of Dietary Supplements are expected to have results of their first long-term clinical trial for St. John’s wort for major depression this year.
Recently, a study by Pfizer Inc., which makes antidepressants and St. John’s wort extract, said the herb is ineffective in treating major depression.
Tags: Herbs
