HEALTH Canada is advising health care professionals and con- sumers about a possible harmful drug interac- tion when certain pre- scription medications are used with St. John’s Wort (Hypericum per- foratum). St. John’s Wort is a natural health product promoted as a treatment for mild depression or as a sedative. Drug interac- tion can seriously alter or diminish the effectiveness of the prescription medication. A recent clinical cial, pub- lished in the medical publica- tion Lancet, showed that St. John’s Wort, when adminis- tered in conjunction with indi- navir, a protease inhibitor used _ to treat HIV infection, signifi- —= HEALTH Herbal remedy can alter drug effects | cantly decreased the protease inhibitor’s presence in the blood stream. With such a decrease, the drug becomes considerably less effective and may promote the development of viral resistance to the drug. Because some other AIDS drugs are metabolized in a similar way to indinavir, the possibility of interactions with these drugs should also be considered. Patients currently using St. John’s Wort concur- rendy with any anti-retroviral drug are strongly urged to consult their health care prac- titioner. Other evidence shows that St. John’s Wort could also affect the metabolistn ofa vari- ety of prescription drugs, including anti-epilepsy agents, oral contraceptives, immuno- suppressants such as cyclosporine, anti-depressants, and anti-coagulants. In certain cases, use of St. John’s Wort by transplant patients has been associated with acute organ transplant rejection in con- junction with a decrease in cyclosporine (anti-rejection drug) values in the blood stream below the therapeutic range. Consumers are also advised that use of St. John’ s Wort in conjunction with conventional anti-depressants may cause “serotonin syadrome,” an excess of serotonin which can cause tremors, headaches and restlessness. It should be noted that, when used on its own, St. John’s Wort has not demon- strated significant health risks. Health Canada has issued a letter to Canadian physi- cians, pharmacists, and prac- titioners of complementary Take care with head bumps AS the weather warms up, children’ to flock to the playground, and» that can lead to bumps and bruises. . A “bump on the head” is a common play- ““pround injury. A child swinging from the mon- : key bars falls and bangs his or her head on a cor- ner of a play structure. What follows? The child ies, is is comforted bys a parent and finally settles lown. , to the head should be taken seriously.- There is ** always the risk ofa skull fracture or brain injury. When a child bumps his or her head, do the fol- lowing: Consider if there was “enough force to seri-. joualy bs harm the child. you think there might Usually the bump is harmless. But any blow , have been, don’t move the child. And don’t let the child move unless you are sure there is no head or spinal injury, aud if you suspect such injuries. Send for medical help immediately. 81 Cold comfort. If there is no serious injury, you can pick up the child and comfort him or her. As soon as possible, put a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in.a towel on the injury site (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off) to relieve pain and reduce swelling. @ Watch for signs of a head injury, concussion or compression. If the child loses consciousness, get medical help. Shallow breathing, nausea or vomiting, “seeing stars” or loss of memory also mean the .child requires immediate medical attention. —source News Canada medicine, alerting them to the possibility of drug inter- actions. Consumers of St. John’s Wort products are Dr. Jimmy K.H. Chan and staff would like to thank everyone for voting Dr. Chan one of their favorite North Shore Dentists in the 1999 Reader's Choice Awards. advised to notify their health care practitioner before con- tinuing or beginning conven- tional drug therapy. Jody's Tip - Work into gardening slowly. Lift with your legs, not your back; move your feet when lifting & digging to avoid twisting your back; kneel or sit when pulling weeds. In Grand Form’s © new exercise and lifestyle [4 session starts Monday May Ist. Space is limited. |: 987-PLAY to register or call ~ Jody for more info at 984-9435 New Patients Welcome! Dr. Jimmy K. H. Chan Lynn Valley Centre Professional Level (2nd floor) : Suite 37, 1199 Lynn Valley Road, N. Van. 985-2912 ig Organic and Natura! Food Store. Effective Dates April 17- - April 2. : 2000 {t California. \Sweoet Tomatoes :