Renshen and headache

[Guest guest]

Hi Carl & All,

 

> When I prescribe formulas including the herb Renshen (for example

> Bazhen tang), I often find that several patients will get a light headache

> the first days. Is this something that anyone else has any knowledge

> about and why? Thanks! Carl

 

I have read that Renshen should be used in Xu-Deficiency, and NOT

used in Shi-Excess conditions.

 

http://www.druginformation.bc.ca/herbs.htm says:

Precautions: Some people may find Korean Ginseng too stimulating,

especially if used before bedtime. Overuse may bring about symptoms

of overstimulation including diarrhea, nervousness and skin eruptions. In

rare cases. people may develop headaches or high blood pressure. If

you have high blood pressure, check with your physician before using

this herb. It is also possible in rare cases that Ginseng can cause

vaginal bleeding in menopausal women. Korean Ginseng should not be

used by patients with high blood pressure, or with a fever, cold and/or

flu. Patients using other stimulants and premenopausal women where

hormone cycles are not stable should also not use this type of Ginseng.

 

American Ginseng appears to be associated with milder side effects

than Korean Ginseng. This type of Ginseng is also available in a

tincture. If taking other medications, please check with your pharmacist

before using either Ginseng.

 

http://www.naturalmedicinesofnc.org/ginseng/Ginseng-adverse.html

says:

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) Adverse Effects/Side

Effects/Contraindications Side effects: none reported for this species of

ginseng.

 

High-dose prolonged exposure to Panax ginseng can result in ginseng

abuse syndrome, with morning diarrhea, rash, insomnia, nervousness,

and hypertension. 4

 

Adverse events: none reported for P.quinquefolius. Other species of

ginseng have been associated rarely with insomnia, mastalgia, vaginal

bleeding, tachycardia, mania, cerebral arteritis, Stevens Johnson

syndrome, cholestatic hepatitis (multi-herb product), amenorrhea,

decreased appetite, edema, hyperpyrexia, pruritis, hypertension,

hypotension, palpitations, headache, vertigo, euphoria and neonatal

death. 15 The FDAÕs adverse event monitoring system recorded 114

events related to products containing P. ginseng (NOT P.

quinquefolius): 13 deaths, tonic-clonic seizure and 2 mild strokes;

jaundice with itching, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; sweating;

dermatomyositis; coma; stomach pains; palpitations; atrial fibrillation;

thrombocytopenia and bone marrow necrosis; headache; abnormal

vaginal bleeding 4 . Causal relationships are unclear as pre-existing

conditions are unknown

 

Precautions/contraindications of American Ginseng : Precautions

should be used in diabetics on hypoglycemic agents. Should NOT be

used in pregnant women as ginenoside Rb1 was found to cause birth

defects in rats. 16 Safety in nursing mothers is unknown. 15 American

ginseng may lower blood glucose levels in diabetics.

 

Best regards,

 

 

Tel: (H): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0)

 

 

 

 

Ireland.

Tel: (W): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0)

 

 

 

" Man who says it can't be done should not interrupt man doing it " -

Chinese Proverb