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Pharmacognosy – Learning about Herb and Drug Interactions
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ImagePharmacognosy is an actual science, one that works by looking at all the various aspects of a drug and its original place of origin.  As outlined by the American Society of Pharmacognosy or ASP, Pharmacognosy is the actual study of drugs specific to their chemical, biochemical, physical, and biological properties, as well as any substances of the drugs and their natural origin. You probably already know that thousands of plants have been used to create life-saving drugs used by people every day.  Understanding the characterization of these plants pertaining to the benefit or therapeutic effect provided is what Pharmacognosy is all about.  Interestingly, while drugs are commonly made from plants, seeds, flowers, roots, and even leaves, each of these has unique profiles.  Being able to separate and then analyze the dynamics is what makes it so vital to understanding potential herb and drug interactions.

Scientists have spent hundreds of years gaining access to these different plant sources and then looking at reactions they have on animals.  With the results, it is much easier to determine if herb and drug interactions will also have any side effects on humans.  Using the study of plant and other growth makes it much easier to identify safe yet effective sources of treating a number of illnesses.  Once the side effects have been identified, then herb and drug interactions can be labeled.

Of course, when a person has a prescription filled at their local pharmacy, they are told about any potential side effects that might occur.  Some people can take medication without any problem at all while others have serious adverse reactions.  However, with the help of Pharmacognosy, herb and drug interactions can be identified.  This allows drug manufacturers to stop production of something too dangerous, make modifications to make the drug safer, or market the medication while providing patients with a list of potential problems.

Unfortunately, some people believe that anything natural or medication made from all natural ingredients is 100% safe but in truth, herb and drug interactions do occur regardless of how pure the ingredients are.  Of course, Pharmacognosy involves professionals and experts who can learn about any possible complications that might arise from herb and drug interactions, whether made from chemicals or natural plants and such.

Typically, a person thinks of drug interactions as being associated only with prescription medication but even plants, seeds, leaves, and so on can have interactions with drugs and with themselves.  In fact, there are herb and drug interactions that can occur because of certain foods being consumed.  Therefore, those who are involved with Pharmacognosy study all the possible combinations, making healthcare professionals and pharmacists aware of possible problems.

One other area in which Pharmacognosy is helpful is not only for herb and drug interactions but also in identifying other substances including food that can diminish the effects of a particular medication.  Obviously, when a patient is written a prescription, the medication is administered in a certain dose.  If the patient does not get the full dose it is possible for the illness to thrive.  Therefore, knowing what drugs, herbs, and foods can lower the effect of the drug is also very important to overall health and wellness.

Some examples of how Pharmacognosy works in finding possible side effects and risks include the following:

•    Alcohol – In all most all medications, alcohol will have some level of interference, typically causing problems with any drug that works on the brain or nervous system.
•    Dietary – When it comes to herb and drug interactions, there are also some components of dairy products that can actually have a substantial increase for side effect risk.  Patients should always have a full understanding of any drug being taken to know if dairy products could increase drug toxicity risk.
•    Vitamins and Minerals – Pharmacognosy also looks at the way in which vitamins and minerals impact certain herbs and drugs.  For example, patients taking drugs to reduce the chance of blood clots should never eat high levels of vegetables containing vitamin K such as spinach, broccoli, and dark, leafy choices.
•    Fiber – Another issue that can arise has to do with drug absorption.  For a person to get the full effects of an herb or drug, the body has to be able to absorb the medication to the fullest.  However, large amounts of fiber or pectin can actually cause a slowdown of absorption, which means the person is not getting the needed level of drug in the system.

In the field of pharmaceuticals, there are many exciting career paths.  In addition to the standard pharmacist, a very important player in this medical field, there are other possibilities that go into testing and research such as Pharmacognosy.  Each of these various roles works hand-in-hand in a number of ways.  For instance, there is the need to identify new drugs, new ways of making drugs, and to understand potential herb and drug interactions that could cause a person serious problem and even death.






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