Interaction between Warfarin and Chinese Herbal Medicines
In traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM), the human body is divided into Yin and Yang. Diseases occur when the Yin
and Yang balance is disrupted. Different herbs are used to restore this
balance, achieving the goal of treatment. However, inherent difficulties in
designing experimental trials have left much of TCM yet to be substantiated by
science. Despite that, TCM not only remains a popular form of medical treatment
among the Chinese, but is also gaining popularity in the West. This phenomenon
has brought along with it increasing reports on herb-drug interactions,
beckoning the attention of Western physicians, who will find it increasingly
difficult to ignore the impact of TCM on Western therapies. This paper aims to
facilitate the education of Western physicians on common Chinese herbs and
raise awareness about potential interactions between these herbs and warfarin,
a drug that is especially susceptible to herb-drug interactions due to its
narrow therapeutic range.
Source: Chua YT,
Ang XL,
Zhong XM,
Khoo KS.
Interaction
between warfarin and Chinese herbal medicines. Singapore Med J. 2015 Jan;56(1):11-8.
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