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Herbals and teas
I have had some difficulty finding a good reference on what herbals and teas us post-transplant patients should not use. I have found a few that are definitely taboo like echinacea and perhaps licorice root but there are others that I have seen in passing that I have not seen in other lists, like ginger, turmeric, cardamon. I have even seen green tea mentioned.
Does anyone have a fairly comprehensive list of these? If so I would really like to know what they are. I found something from MGH that was FOUR BOOKS of reference on this, about 800 pages in all, and only the first book was available online. This has been my one disappointment at Mass General, that they have not provided a list like this, but maybe other transplant centers have not either.
JK
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@beckyjohnson interesting question. I know that many of the things that need to be avoided are due to them either suppressing your immune system more, or less. It’s a delicate balance. I think there may be some things that are to be avoided because your transplanted organ is already fighting to stay healthy and you don’t want to up that battle. As I say that I am thinking specifically of alcohol, but I don’t know that for certain. Alcohol, particularly red wine, in moderation has been shown to have health benefits.
Rosemary or any other transplant recipients, do you know if alcohol does effect the immunosuppressants or is the concern for the transplanted liver?
JK
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1 Reaction@rosemarya I too love grapefruit flavor. I rarely drank the juice (my husband has it always) but I enjoyed it in non-caloric beverages that have “essence of grapefruit” but even those need to be avoided. I like Pom juice also, and used to drink it because it had some health benefits so I am disappointed in that. We sure do have a lot of restrictions and the irony is that most of the things that are to be avoided are considered to be healthy!
JK
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1 ReactionI am allowed one alcoholic beverage per month. I figure there's a reason so I don't have any but I know I can.
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1 Reaction@contentandwell, I agree that grapefruit and pomagranit juice is delish but the main reason we have to avoid it is because it contains an enzyme that will destroy our anti-rejection medications completely anyone that takes high blood pressure meds has to also avoid bot pom and grapefruit for the exact same reason I know as both my kids are on blood pressure meds not for high blood pressure but they use it for their. ADHD
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2 Reactions@donnan I wonder if your physician would say the same after a liver transplant. My doctor did say, for very special occasions, I could have a drink, such as a champagne toast at my daughter's wedding. I always prefer asking the doctor because the NP goes strictly by the letter of the law, no exceptions. The doctor knows when he/she can be a tad more lenient.
JK
@glinda. Thanks, I did realize it is because of how it affects the medications, and I follow that strictly. I presume grapefruit must be the worst because that tends to be the one they stress. I do not remember any mention of pomegranate until recently, nor does my husband.
JK
@contentandwell I love the way you worded "you don't want to up that battle". Thanks for sharing that.
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2 Reactions@donnan I did receive a list but it did not include things that are herbal, and it did not mention pomegranate.
JK
@beckyjohnson My son was the first person to suggest to me that perhaps the not drinking was due to that transplanted liver already fighting for it's life, and alcohol is toxic to your liver. He is not medically inclined at all so when he comes up with something like that, that could be the reason, it always surprises me. As I said previously though, I am now thinking it has to do with the immunosuppressants.
JK
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1 Reaction@contentandwell It has been my experience that when the light comes on for anyone, especially someone without inclination towards the subject matter there is usually something to it. Your son has cause to believe that since he connected those dots. There is no doubt immunosuppressants play a role
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