Intermediate~11 hours12 lessons

Drug-Herb Interactions in Modern Practice

The clinical safety course every working herbalist needs

Twelve lessons on the practical clinical safety considerations of working with clients who take prescription medications. You will learn the major mechanisms of drug-herb interaction, the specific herb-drug pairs that cause real problems, the narrow-therapeutic-index drug list, and how to work alongside prescribing providers safely. This is the course nobody enjoys teaching and that every working herbalist needs.

Taught by Deidre Starner, Master Herbalist

What you'll learn

  • Identify the four major mechanisms of drug-herb interaction and predict which mechanism applies to a given pair
  • Recognize the narrow-therapeutic-index drug list and adjust herbal recommendations accordingly
  • Apply specific knowledge of high-risk herb-drug pairs (St John's wort + many drugs, anticoagulants + several herbs, etc.)
  • Conduct a medication review during intake and document interaction-screening reasoning
  • Communicate with prescribing providers in a way that supports coordinated client care

Course outline

  1. 1

    Course Welcome — Why This Course Matters

    30 minFree preview
  2. 2

    The Major Mechanisms of Drug-Herb Interaction

    50 minFree preview
  3. 3

    CYP450 Inductions and Inhibitions — The Most Important Mechanism

    55 min
  4. 4

    The Narrow-Therapeutic-Index Drug List

    45 min
  5. 5

    Anticoagulant Additivity — Bleeding Risks

    40 min
  6. 6

    Sedative and CNS-Depressant Additivity

    35 min
  7. 7

    Hypoglycemic and Antihypertensive Additivity

    35 min
  8. 8

    Specific Herb-Drug Pairs to Watch

    50 min
  9. 9

    Working With Clients on Polypharmacy

    45 min
  10. 10

    The Pharmacist Conversation — Coordinating with Prescribers

    40 min
  11. 11

    Documentation and Liability Protection

    35 min
  12. 12

    Capstone — Audit Your Practice for Interaction Patterns

    55 min