PSA! Herbal Interactions with Medicine!
Here is a list of herbs that are dangerous to take with SSRIS/Anti-depressants/Anti-psychotic/Anxiety meds.
Feverfew/Ginger/Ginseng - while this is a great herbal option for feel-better/pain-relieving spells and teas, it is also a blood thinner. Potentially mixing this with warfarin or other anti-anxiety/PTSD meds that also are blood thinners (this allows your body to calm down easier and stay that way), the two could create a dangerous mix that could lead to severe bleeding. This could be especially dangerous if you have ulcers or other internal bleeding issues or are a person with a uterus that has an excessive bleeding condition.
Ginkgo bilboa - a less common witchcraft piece, but still….Ginkgo is a blood thinner as well, like Feverfew, but this could also potentially lessen the effectiveness of anti-seizure medicine. Additionally, Ginkgo can change the effects of synthetic insulin so DO NOT INGEST THIS if you are diabetic. While taking Gingko with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOIs) can be risky, it is actually a helpful supplement to take with selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors if you are experiencing sexual-problems that can be common with SSRIS.
St. Johns Wort. - DO NOT TAKE THIS IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY ANTIDEPRESSANT, EVER. St. Johns Wort has been shown to alleviate some mild depression, but it does this by creating more serotonin, which, when paired with an antidepressant that also works with serotonin, can cause something called serotonin syndrome. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION. It can slow your breathing, heart-rate, and lead to death.
Additionally, St. Johns Wort can also impact HIV/AIDs medication and generally shouldn’t be taken if you’re taking any medicine, really.
Ginseng - DO not take this with MAOI anti-depressants or PTSD/Anxiety meds that work with your blood. Ginseng has been known to cause tremors, headaches, and manic episodes in people taking MAOIs, especially phenelzine. It stops the action of warfarin.
Valerian - DO NOT TAKE THIS with any barbiturates, antidepressants, or medications for insomnia or anxiety. It causes immense drowsiness, which is why it is good with sleep, but ONLY on it’s own.
Kava - this has been known to cause a calming effect for people with anxiety, but unfortunately the herb can amplify how other sedatives work. It can interfere with anti-psychotic and Parkinson’s medications. DO NOT drink alcohol with this herb.
Essentially, be CAREFUL when ingesting herbs and if you’re on any medicine always ask your doctor. If you don’t want to out yourself as a witch, just ask them if it’s safe to take as a supplement. If you’re worried you’ve ingested something that is interacting with your drugs, the best spell for that is calling 9-1-1 (or whatever your emergency number is in your country)
This list isn’t all-inclusive and my advice will never be better than a medical-professionals, as I am NOT a medical professional, just an old witch who wants his fellow witches to stay alive.
Practice safe witchcraft!