Back in the ‘90s there were several reports of serious interactions in people who used Ginkgo biloba with other “blood thinners” to treat peripheral vascular disease (ie, dementia and claudication).

Researchers at Inje University College of Medicine, in Busan, Republic of Korea, evaluated the effects of G. biloba extracts on the pharmacokinetics of the antiplatelet drug cilostazol (Pletal) and its metabolites. (more…)

A researcher from Bangalore, India, reviewed the evidence and sees a difference between what’s seen in the lab and what’s reported in practice.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

People with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) have abnormalities in their blood vessels. The most common manifestation is spontaneous and recurrent nosebleeds (epistaxis). More on HHT is here.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Sinus Center, in Baltimore, Maryland, studied the effects of sesame/rose geranium oil. (more…)

In 2009, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that more than 13,000 emergency room visits were associated with energy drinks.

Now, The New York Times tells us, FDA reports the caffeine drink, 5-hour Energy, may have been involved in 13 deaths over the past four years.

There’s no absolute proof that these drinks were the sole cause of these events. And the makers of 5-Hour Energy and Monster Energy insist their products are safe and unrelated to the problems reported to the FDA.

Regardless. (more…)

Researchers at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, reviewed the adverse events associated with needle acupuncture in children. (more…)

Researchers from the Cheyenne Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Wyoming report that when taken together, 1 patient experienced bleeding from the blood “thinner” warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)

Dr. Jennifer Strohecker at the Intermountain Medical Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells us the safety of warfarin (Coumadin) use can be compromised by many popular herbal and nonherbal supplements.

Here’s what we know from her research. (more…)

Acupuncture is frequently used to manage the side effects associated with cancer therapy.

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center, in New York City, studied the safety of acupuncture in patients with cancer treatment-related thrombocytopenia. (more…)

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong, in China, studied the risk for an herbal:warfarin interaction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. (more…)

During the American Heart Association meeting, Dr. Jennifer Strohecker, at the Intermountain Medical Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, reported that documentation of supplement use in the medical chart is poor. (more…)

“The warning that there is a potential to enhance the effect of warfarin… with cranberry juice intake is mostly based on faulty reports.”

That’s the conclusion by researchers at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. (more…)

Concern over bleeding due to changes in platelet function has led to prohibiting omega-3 supplements before surgery.

Researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City, reviewed the records of spinal surgery patients in order to determine the risk of bleeding. (more…)

When the number of platelets in the blood is low — thrombocytopenia — it’s more difficult for blood to clot. Early signs of thrombocytopenia include bruising, and bleeding from the nose or into the gastrointestinal tract.

Researchers from the College of Medicine University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, in Oklahoma City reviewed interactions between platelets and CAM, herbals, nutritional supplements, foods, and beverages. (more…)

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common female endocrine disorder affecting about 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age a leading causes of reduced fertility.

Researchers in Sweden studied the response to low-frequency electro-acupuncture in these women. (more…)

Hemophilia refers to bleeding disorders in which it takes a long time for the blood to clot. Patients suffer from acute pain due to bleeding into a joint and chronic arthritic pain from repeated bleeding episodes.

During the Hemophilia 2010 World Congress, researchers from the Henry Ford Health System, in Detroit, Michigan, reported their results. (more…)

Acquired brain injury is caused by stroke, an aneurysm, or an infection and may result in problems with movement, language, sensation, thinking, or emotion.

In this Cochrane Review, researchers in the US and UK evaluated the efficacy of music therapy as an option for rehabilitation. (more…)

Researchers from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Republic of Korea studied Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and found no interaction with the blood thinner, warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)

Researchers at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, in Prescott, Arizona report that no interaction occurred.

How should we consider these findings in light of other research showing an interaction? (more…)

Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia investigated the possible impact of two commonly used herbal medicines, garlic and cranberry, on the anticoagulant, warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Arizona collaborated to review the risks of herbal:drug interactions.

The abstract is a bit skimpy on details, but the American Pharmaceutical Association has a nice summary, which will be summarized further here. (more…)