Why taking traditional medicine with modern drugs is a dangerous mix

Many of us think nothing of consuming herbs and supplements together with our medicines, but that can be potentially dangerous. — 123rf.com

Many Malaysians are believers in traditional herbs to treat or prevent certain medical conditions. Often, they will think nothing of taking both these herbs and any medication prescribed to them by their doctor together, as the assumption is that these herbs are “natural” and safe to consume with any drugs.

However, this is not always the case. According to Monash University Malaysia School of Pharmacy head Associate Professor Dr Ong Chin Eng, whenever a drug is taken with another substance, be it another drug, herb or supplement, there is a chance that the two substances might interact with one another.