Abstract

Most people have the mistaken belief that being natural, all herbs and foods are safe. It cannot be said to be true. The herbs and foods may interact with medications taken, that may result in serious side reactions. For the simple reason that like oral medication, food and herbs also traverse the same gastrointestinal path. Hence co-administration of drugs and food/herbs may affect the absorption of the drugs by altering gastric pH, secretion, gastrointestinal motility and transit time; and consequently therapeutic efficacy.