A 2010 Mayo Clinic report listed more than two dozen herbal supplement products that can be dangerous for heart patients taking prescription drugs. The following natural herbal supplements made the list:

Alfalfa

• What Alfalfa is: Alfalfa is a plant in the pea family cultivated as an important forage crop. The dried leaves alfalfa are ground up and sold as capsules.
• What Alfalfa is used for: Alfalfa is a natural herbal supplement used to lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, and to reduce the plaques caused by atherosclerosis.
• Alfalfa health risk: Alfalfa increases the risk of bleeding associated with warfarin.

Aloe vera

• What Aloe vera is: Aloe vera is a stem-less or very short-stemmed succulent plant, which the pulp of aloe vera derives from.
• What Aloe vera is used for: Aloe vera is a natural herbal supplement taken orally to treat serious health conditions including arthritis, epilepsy, diabetes, and asthma.
• Aloe vera health risk: Aloe vera can cause a drop in the blood's potassium level, which can lead to heart-rhythm problems (arrhythmias), as well as complications in heart patients taking the drug digoxin.

Bilberry

• What Bilberry is: Bilberry is a dried extract of edible berries, very similar to the blueberry. Bilberry is sold as a capsule.
• What Bilberry is used for: Bilberry is a natural herbal supplement used to treat problems associated with poor circulation, most notably varicose veins and venous insufficiency, in addition to eyestrain, skin problems, diarrhea, and menstrual cramps.
• Bilberry health risk: Bilberry may improve blood circulation, but bilberry can also increase the risk of bleeding associated with warfarin.

Black Cohosh

• What black cohosh is: Black cohosh is the extract of the root of the black cohosh plant, Actaea racemosa. Black cohosh is sold as a capsule.
• What black cohosh is used for: Black cohosh is a natural herbal supplement product mainly used to ease the symptoms of menopause. Black cohosh has also been used to treat joint and muscle pain.
• Black Cohosh health risk: Black cohosh may interfere with certain prescription medications, including statins, beta-blockers, and calcium-channel blockers. It also carries a risk of liver damage.

Butcher's Broom

• What butcher’s broom is: The extract of the shrub Ruscus aculeatus, also known as butcher's broom. Butcher’s broom is sold as a capsule.
• What butcher’s broom is used for: Butcher’s broom is a natural herbal supplement product used to improve ailments associated with poor circulation, such as varicose veins, venous insufficiency, and leg cramps.
• Butcher’s broom health risk: Butcher's broom can interfere with the action of alpha-blockers, a class of drug that is prescribed to lower blood pressure.

Echinacea

• What Echinacea is: The aboveground parts of the plant and roots of Echinacea are used fresh or dried to make teas, squeezed (expressed) juice, extracts or sold as a capsule.
• What Echinacea is used for: Echinacea is natural herbal supplement used to prevent colds, flu and boost the immune system (although recent studies have suggested it's not effective).
• Echinacea health risk: Echinacea can increase the risk of liver damage associated with statin medications, niacin, and fibrates, all of which are prescribed to lower cholesterol.

Fenugreek

• What Fenugreek is: Fenugreek is a seed (often ground into a powder) that has been used since the days of ancient Egypt and is available in capsule form.
• What Fenugreek is used for: Fenugreek is a natural herbal supplement used for a wide range of ailments, including digestive problems, hot flashes, and a lack of breast milk. More recently, it has also been used to lower cholesterol.
• Fenugreek health risk: Increases the risk of bleeding associated with warfarin. Fenugreek can also lower blood sugar, which can cause complications for diabetics.

Garlic

• What garlic is: Garlic is a member of the onion family. Garlic in addition to its natural state is commercially available as an oil, extract, or pill.
• What garlic is used for: Garlic is a natural herbal supplement often used to lower total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure. Also used as a blood thinner and to combat atherosclerosis.
• Garlic health risk: Garlic's blood-thinning properties can increase the risk of bleeding associated with taking warfarin, an anti-clotting drug commonly prescribed to people with heart-rhythm disorders, and to people who have had heart-valve replacements or heart attacks.

Ginger

• What Ginger is: Ginger is a root, often used in cooking, that is also processed and sold as a capsule.
• What Ginger is used for: Ginger is a natural herbal supplement that has been used for centuries to treat various stomach ailments (such as nausea, diarrhea, and stomachache). It is also used to treat joint and muscle pain.
• Ginger health risk: Ginger increases the risk of bleeding associated with warfarin.

Gingko

• What Gingko is: Ginkgo is the extract of the leaves of the ginkgo plant (also known as the maidenhair tree), sold as a capsule or tea.
• What Gingko is used for: Ginkgo is a natural herbal supplement mainly used to improve memory and prevent dementia (including Alzheimer's disease), but it has also been used to treat asthma, ringing in the ears, sexual dysfunction, and leg pain caused by poor circulation.
• Gingko health risk: Gingko increases the risk of bleeding associated with aspirin and warfarin.

Ginseng

• What Ginseng is: Ginseng is an herb, native to Asia, that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and is now sold as a capsule.
• What Ginseng is used for: Ginseng is a natural herbal supplement used to boost energy, stamina, and the immune system. Ginseng is also used to lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Ginseng health risk: Ginseng, when overused, can actually increase blood pressure and can diminish the effect of warfarin.

Grapefruit juice

• What grapefruit juice is used for: Grapefruit juice is use to lose weight and to promote heart health.
• What Grapefruit juice is: Grapefruit juice is the fruit juice from grapefruits. Grapefruit is rich in Vitamin C and ranges from sweet-tart to very sour.
• Grapefruit juice health risk: Grapefruit juice interferes with an enzyme that is essential for properly absorbing medications including statins and calcium-channel blockers, which intensifies the effect of those drugs. Research has shown a single glass of grapefruit juice more than doubles the amount of calcium-channel blocker available to the body.

Green Tea

• What green tea is: Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea is usually steeped in water, but also available as a capsule or extract.
• What green tea is used for: Green tea is a natural herbal supplement use to lose weight, improve mental alertness, lower cholesterol, and prevent cancer.
• Green tea health risk: Green tea contains vitamin K, which can counteract the effect of warfarin.

Hawthorn

• What hawthorn is used for: The fruit of the hawthorn shrub has been used to treat the symptoms of heart disease for hundreds of years, while the leaf and flower are also used to treat heart failure.
• What hawthorn is: Hawthorn is a flowering shrub related to the rosebush.
• Hawthorn health risk: Hawthorn has been shown to strengthen the contractions of heart muscle, which may interact negatively with prescription heart-failure medications.

Licorice Root

• What licorice root is: Licorice root is the dried extract of the root of the licorice plant (related to beans and peas), sold as a capsule.
• What licorice root is used for: Licorice root is a natural herbal supplement used to treat ulcers and other stomach ailments, bronchitis and sore throat, and some viral infections.
• Licorice root health risk: Licorice root can raise blood pressure. Licorice root can also cause a dangerous drop in blood potassium levels.

Saw Palmetto Extract

• What Saw Palmetto Extract is: Saw palmetto extract is an extract of the fruit of Serenoa repens (a type of palm tree). Saw Palmetto is rich in fatty acids and phytosterols. Saw palmetto extract is available as a capsule, liquid, or tea.
• What Saw palmetto extract is used for: Saw palmetto extract is a natural herbal supplement primarily used to fight the urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate gland, saw palmetto is also used to combat hair loss, chronic pelvic pain, and decreased sex drive.
• Saw palmetto extract health risk: Saw palmetto extract increases the risk of bleeding associated with warfarin.

St. John's wort

• What St John’s wort is: St. Johns wort is a yellow-flowered plant, Hypericum perforatum, that is sold as a capsule, tea, or liquid extract.
• What St John’s wort is used for: St John’s wort is a natural herbal supplement primarily used to treat depression and anxiety. St. John's wort is also used as a sedative in sleep disorders.
• St John’s wort health risk: St John’s wort effects how the body absorbs dozens of prescription medications and may diminish the efficacy of statins, beta-blockers (a class of drugs used to treat high blood pressure and heart-rhythm disorders), and calcium-channel blockers.

Yohimbe

• What yohimbe is: Yohimbe is an extract of the bark of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree (also known as yohimbine or yohimbe bark).
• What yohimbe is used for: Yohimbe is a natural herbal supplement used as an aphrodisiac, and to treat erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems in men.
• Yohimbe heath risk: Yohimbe increases heart rate, and can both raise and lower blood pressure, potentially causing complications in people with heart problems.

And Many More Natural Herbal Supplements

These aren't the only natural herbal supplement products heart patients should be wary of. Here are some additional natural herbal supplement products that can all interact negatively with heart medications.

• Angelica
• Capsicum
• Fumitory
• Gossypol
• Irish moss
• Kelp
• Khella
• Lily of the valley
• Ephedra
• Night-blooming cereus
• Oleander
• Strophanthus

Everyone, especially heart patients taking medication, should check with their physician before taking a natural herbal dietary supplement.

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About Lynn Glenn

Lynn Glenn is a 62 year old  natural athlete from Southern California  who  started weight lifting at the ripe young age of 48. After catching the "bodybuilding bug" Lynn Glenn became   interested in living a healthy lifestyle and began writing about hot   topics in the areas of  health,  fitness,   disease  prevention, diet,  nutrition, diet and weight loss, men's fitness, cardio training, and  anti  aging.

Lynn is a regular writer at  www.MuscleMagFitness.com,  www.MyBesthealthPortal.com , and www.MyBesthealthPortal.net, and became senior editor of www.MyBesthealthPortal.net in 2009. To  contact Lynn regarding personal training, or product endorsements, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit his page at www.MyBesthealthPortal.net.