There is indeed a problem with drug/herb interactions that needs more awareness. There is of course, a need of awareness of drug/drug interactions that needs to be more prevalent as well. Also, there is a need of doctors to find the actual cause of a problem.My own personal experience: I was told the herbs I took AFTER I started having symptoms caused my symptoms. Amazing. I wonder how often THAT happens.I was told of a case against a Chinese herbalist who treated a heart patient. The doctors tried to take him to court and blame the death on him; but in China, unlike here, herbalists study both fields of medicine and also work in hospitals. So this man could point out what the doctors did before he even saw the patient that caused the problem to be as bad as it was. This, to physicians, by the way, is anecdotal evidence-they do not use it to indicate they may need to be better at what they do-but I digress. The suit was dropped. Look up the prevalence these days of illness caused by doctors and you will find that they probably NEED to find as many scapegoats as they can before we all start insisting that they take more time to look at their patients. Not that I am bitter. But I resent getting seen for 7 minutes, not listened to, given an antibiotic, and sent on my way. Did any of these kind doctors think to ask on their patient histories what herb the patient was taking? I was told we didn't need to do that when I do heart monitor testing lab here. Some of these interactions are known-maybe not by doctors, who often don't even ask people in other medical specialties what they know-but known to herbalists worldwide. I would be interested to know how many of these problems could have been prevented with a simple question:what herbs do you take? Statistics here in the US say some 75% of us use herbs. People need to ask questions to learn, and I have seen far too many doctors who don't listen, don't ask, and don't follow up.

Actually, there's quite a lot in the medical literature now regarding the need to ask patients what herbs and supplements they are taking (standard questions until recently revolved around what drugs a patient was on, and many patients don't regard herbs/supplements as drugs - or even deny they're taking them under the impression the physician will disapprove).

"I was told of a case against a Chinese herbalist who treated a heart patient. The doctors tried to take him to court and blame the death on him"

The doctors tried to take him to court? Somehow I doubt that.

Doctors read articles on questions to ask their patients? Somehow I doubt THAT. In the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver near where I live you could tell where the doctors lived. All you had to do was look at the pile of pristinely wrapped never opened copies of the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA) and New England Journal of Medicine(NEJM)sitting next to their trash on the recycle bin.

Speaking of unprovable anecdotes, where's a link regarding the doctors who supposedly tried to take the Chinese herbalist to court?

There is at least one book out which lists the interactions, but it is rather expensive (and I don't remember the name, unfortunately). Anyone into long-term use of herbs should probably seek out a copy, though. I've seen it for sale at Wild Oats.

I don't think the interactions would be as much of an issue in cases where the herbs were used homeopathically, because in that case the dosages would be extremely low.

"I don't think the interactions would be as much of an issue in cases where the herbs were used homeopathically, because in that case the dosages would be extremely low."

Seeing that typical homeopathic "medications" don't even contain one molecule of the substances listed on the label, you wouldn't have to worry about interactions.

The only real issue would be why you spent good money for water. :)