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| Herbal names | Botanic names | Medical uses | Potential risks |
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| Aloe (other names: hsiang-dan, lu-hui) | Aloe barbadensis/capensis/vera | Depresses the action potential generation and conduction at neuromuscular junction processes, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Increases the collagen content of granulation. Tissue contributed to wound healing, sometimes used to treat AIDS, diabetes, asthma, stomach ulcers, immune weakness, evacuation relief, anal fissures after rectoanal surgery, fungal diseases, constipation, colic, and worm infestations. | Loss of electrolytes, potassium, this hypokalemic effect enhanced in conjunction with thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, licorice, and corticosteroids (increase the action of cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic drugs). |
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| Huang-Qi (other names: superior Chinese astragalus) | Astragalus species | Used for respiratory infections, immune depression, cancer, heart failure, viral infections, liver disease, and kidney disease. Hyperthyroidism, hypertension, insomnia, diabetes, genital herpes, AIDS, and the side effects of chemotherapy. | Bleeding when used with other anticoagulant, antiplatelet, or antithrombotic agents. It is incompatible with opiates. |
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| Chinese rhubarb, da-huang | Rheum palmatum | Constipation, appetite stimulant, painful teething, delirium, edema, and diarrhea. | Electrolyte loss (especially potassium leading to hyperaldosteronism and enhanced effects of radioactive drugs). Long term use causes arrhythmias, nephropathies, and bond loss. |
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Dandelion (other names: lion's tooth,
endive) |
Taraxacam
offinae/laevigatum | Dyspeptic conditions, urinary tract infections, liver and gallbladder, loss of appetite, fluid retention, constipation, rheumatism, and diabetes. | Not to be used with diuretics, antihypertensive agents and oral hypoglycemic, and mammal and lactating related problems. |
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Ephedra, ma huang
(other names: natural ecstasy, fen-phen) | Ephedra sinica |
Used as CNS stimulant for appetite suppressant, a nasal decongestant, bronchial asthma, joint symptoms, inability to perspire edema, and pain in the bones. | May alter effects of MAO inhibitors, ephedrine, B-blockers, phenothiazines, and Sudafed. Higher dosages result in blood pressure and cardiac rhythm disorders; it has an additive effect with caffeine and decongestants and heart rhythm disturbances when used with halothane. |
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| Garlic (other names: da-suan) | Allium sativum | For elevated lipid levels, age-related vascular change and arteriosclerosis, inflammatory respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal ailments, diabetes, constipation, and joint pain. | Decrease in hematocrit values and plasma viscosity; concomitant use with Coumadin antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin and dipyridamole could increase the effect of bleeding. Risk of bleeding increased with ginkgo or high-dose vitamin E and may increase serum insulin levels. |
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| Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba (other names:xGinkgo) | | For organic brain dysfunction intermittent claudicating, vertigo and tinnitus, improving concentration, asthma, hypertonic, erectile dysfunction, and angina pectoris. | Spontaneous bleeding due to potent inhibitory effect on platelet-activating factor; care when used with aspirin and other anticoagulant hypertension with thiazide diuretics. |
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Ginseng (other names: Chinese Red
Panax) | Panaxginseng/quinquefolius | For fatigue and debility, concentration, loss of appetite, cachexia, anxiety, impotence and sterility, neuralgia, and
insomnia. | Hypoglycemic effects, hypotension resulting with prolonged high-dose ginseng with caffeine, adverse effects with oral hypoglycemic and MAO inhibitors, concomitant use with aspirin, NSAIDs, heparin, and warfarin should be avoided. |
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| Green tea (other names: Chinese matsu-cha) | Camellia sinensis | | Vitamin K in green tea interferes with Coumadin, decreases the absorption of alkaline drugs. |
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| Licorice | Glycyrrhiza glabra | For cough/bronchitis and gastritis, also used for appendicitis, constipation, increase milk production, micturition, gastric ulcers, headache, sore throat, spleen disorders, dehydration, and chronic fatigue syndrome. | Hypokalemia, hypernatremia, edema, hypertension, and cardiac complaints. Additive effect with furosemide and thiazide diuretics. Hypokalemic effects potentiate digitalis toxicity. Severe ventricular tachycardia of the torsade de pointes type resulted with the concomitant use of antiarrhythmic agents and may prolong the half-life of cortical increasing its effectiveness and its side effects. |
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| Papaya | Carica papaya | For gastrointestinal digestive complaints, athletic injuries, and herniated vertebral disks. |
Fibrinolytic effect, tendency to bleed due to interaction with warfarin and increased INR levels. |
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| Prickly ash (other names: toothache tree, stanberry) | Zanthoxylum americanum | For toothache, intestinal gas, to promote circulation, and rheumatism. | Promote bleeding when used with aspirin or other blood thinners. |
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| Turmeric (other names: Jiang huang) | Curcuma longa | Dyspeptic complaints and loss of appetite, also cancer, gallstones, intestinal gas osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. | Alter the action of Coumadin, NSAIDs, and immune system suppressants. |
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| Wild Yam (other names: China root) | Dioscorea villosa | For rheumatic conditions, gall bladder colic, dysmenorrheal, and cramps. | Decrease the anti-inflammatory effect of indomethacin, additive effect with estrogen. |
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