Phone Numbers
Directory assistance
(203) 688-4242
Patient information
(203) 688-4177
Adult emergency
(203) 688-2222
Children's emergency
(203) 688-3333
Admitting
(203) 688-2221
Children's admitting
(203) 688-3331
Psychiatric admitting
(203) 688-9907
Mailing address:
Yale-New Haven Hospital
20 York Street
New Haven, CT
06510-3202
Information about common herbals
Please refer to the list below for information on 11 common herbals regarding use, appropriate adult doses and interactions and precautions. We also provide tips for taking herbals and links to information available on other Web sites about herbals. The information below is presented as a guide only and in no way indicates the endorsement of any product by Yale-New Haven Hospital. Always consult a physician or pharmacist before taking an herbal supplement.
Black Cohosh
| Use: | Decreases hot flashes. Treats premenstrual discomfort and pain with menstruation. | Adult dosing: | 40-200 mg for no more than 6 months. Effects may not be seen for up to 4 weeks. | Interactions/ precautions: |
May cause low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting. Do not use during pregnancy. |
Chamomile
| Use: | Treats peptic ulcers, eczema, swelling of mouth and gums, and promotes wound-healing. | Adult dosing: | 3g (1 tbsp) in 250 ml hot water, steep 10-15 min., strain. Taken 3-4 times daily between meals. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Allergic reactions and vomiting. |
Echinacea
| Use: | Prevention and treatment of cold and flu symptoms. | Adult dosing: | Maximum recommended daily dose 2-5g of dried root used for no more than 6-8 weeks. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Suppresses immune system after 6-8 weeks. Before taking this product, speak with your physician if you have an autoimmune disease. |
Feverfew
| Use: | Prevention and treatment of migraine, fevers and menstrual problems. | Adult dosing: | 125 mg dried leaves daily or twice daily. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Nausea, vomiting and mouth ulceration. Do not use in pregnancy or children under age 2. Increases effect of blood thinners (ex: Coumadin). |
Garlic
| Use: | Lowers cholesterol. May also be an anti-fungal and an antibacterial. It may also reduce clots and have anti-inflammatory effects. | Adult dosing: | 4-12 mg of the active ingredient of garlic: allicin; 0.4-12 g of dried powder; 2-5 g of fresh bulb. (Best results with enteric-coated.) | Interactions/ precautions: |
Helps prevent clots, interacts with blood thinners (ex: warfarin, Coumadin) and reduces blood sugar. |
Ginkgo
| Use: | Increases blood flow to the brain and other vital organs and improves memory. | Adult dosing: | 60-80 mg of standardized leaf extract taken twice or three times daily. Effects seen in 1-2 months. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Spontaneous bleeding, minor nausea and vomiting. |
Ginseng
| Use: | Improves stamina. May lower cholesterol. | Adult dosing: | 1-2 g of root daily, or 100-300 mg of extract three times daily for 3-4 weeks. Three-year-old root most effective. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Headache, nervousness, excitation, insomnia, vaginal bleeding. Before taking this product, speak with your physician if you have high blood pressure. |
Kava-Kava
| Use: | Used for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety. | Adult dosing: | Daily dose is 60-120 mg. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Muscle weakness, reversible skin discoloration and enlarged pupils. Do not take this product if you are pregnant, have depression or are breastfeeding. |
Milk Thistle
| Use: | Treats inflammatory liver disorders and cirrhosis. Protects liver from toxins. | Adult dosing: | 12-15 g daily. Not effective in tea. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Mild diarrhea, allergic reactions and hives. |
St. John's Wort
| Use: | Treats mild-to-moderate depression. Causes sedation and can reduce swelling. | Adult dosing: | 300 mg three times daily for no more than 8 weeks. Tea: 1-2 tsp. in hot water, steep 5-10 min. Take 1-2 cups twice daily. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Fatigue and nausea. Do not take with antidepressants. |
Saw Palmetto
| Use: | Treats benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and swelling. | Adult dosing: | 1-2 g of ground, dried fruit daily, or 80 mg of standardized extract twice daily. Teas are ineffective. | Interactions/ precautions: |
Upset stomach, mild headache, diarrhea. Do not take this product if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have children. |
Tips for taking herbals
- Unlike prescription medications, herbals are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking any herbal product.
- Tell your doctor what herbals you are taking
- If you are looking for one specific herbal, beware of the amount in each dose. Different brands may have variable amounts in each dose.
| The web sites above are linked for your convenience. For the most part they are not managed by Yale-New Haven Hospital. While we make every effort to recommend sites of high quality, we do not continuously review, control or take responsibility for the content of sites other than our own. If you are disappointed in the quality of a site we have listed, please let us know. |
Online resources for herbal information
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institutes of Health
- The Natural Pharmacist
- Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Last revised: July 30, 2007 (dh)
