Herbal/alternative products, toxicity

B. Specific drugs and antidotes. There are no specific antidotes for toxicity related to herbal and alternative products. 

There is an evolving variety of alternative healthcare practices and products to choose from. (See Terminology sidebar.) Adults and adolescents alike are asking themselves questions such as, Should I take a pill for my headache, or drink chamomile herbal tea There are several scientific counterparts to this seemingly simple question, for example Are these both remedies Are they equally effective Is one healthier or less toxic than the other Can they be used together At this time, there is no comparative information on codeine versus alternative medicine (e.g., acupuncture) as effective treatments for pain, cough, and diarrhea. 

Ma huang (ephedra) is commonly found in herbal weight loss products that are often referred to herbal fen-phen. Some weight loss clinics and herbal outlets promote Herbal fen-phen as an alternative to fenfluramine, the prescription drug that has been withdrawn from the market due to toxicity. Herbal fen-phen products sometimes contain St John s wort and are sold as herbal prozac . Ephedra-containing products are also marketed as decongestants, bronchodilators and stimulants. Other promoted uses include bodybuilding and enhancement... 

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