People's Pharmacy

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Another Fish Oil Tale Of Gray Hair Gone

Posting Date: 08/04/2003

Vitamin K, which is found in many foods, especially green vegetables like broccoli, can counteract Coumadin?s action. Consequently, you need to keep your intake of vitamin K even from one day to the next. To help you do that, we are sending you our Guide to Coumadin Interactions.

Foods are not the only things that could interact with your Coumadin. Many medications also interact, so be sure every doctor you see knows that you are taking this drug and checks for compatibility.

Quite a few herbal medicines could also pose problems with Coumadin. Ginkgo, garlic and ginger are among those that might increase your risk of bleeding.

We are including our Guide to Herbal Remedies with its descriptions of a few popular herbs that may interact with Coumadin. Anyone who would like copies, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. DE-65, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

Q. I have recently started taking small amounts of kava to relieve anxiety in stressful situations. It seems to work fairly well, but I'd like to know if there are any side effects.

A. Kava may cause liver damage. Although the FDA has issued a warning, it has not banned this herbal product.

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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press). © 2003 King Features Syndicate, Inc