How does taking St. John's Wort affect blood chemistry?

How does taking herbal remedies such as St. John's Wort affect giving blood? Should you tell the blood donor centre?

19 February 2006

Part of the show Chinese Medicine and the Healing Power of Plants

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Question

How does taking herbal remedies such as St. John's Wort affect giving blood? Should you tell the blood donor centre?

Answer

I think you should tell them. It's also important that you tell your doctor that you're taking something herbal, because so frequently that doesn't happen. The outcome is that the herbalist doesn't know what drugs you're taking and the doctor doesn't know what the herbalist is giving you.