Interactions of Drugs and Herbs in Gastroenterology

Herbal therapy is the most common modality of alternative and complementary treatment, mainly based on the thought that all herbs are safe as “natural.” On the other hand, scientists are becoming more interested in herbs as useful therapeutic tools in a number of diseases, in particular in gastroenterology. Thus, the debate on the efficacy, safety, and quality of herbal or natural products has increased interest, based on a number of evidence on the pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic pathways underlying herb-drug interactions and their effects on health. An adequate understanding of these mechanisms is essential for minimizing clinical risks but also for ameliorating the efficacy of both drugs and herbs, particularly in the case of polytherapy, a mixture of different herbs and in subjects with chronic diseases.