Greetings - I had intended to put this under a category “Health and Wellbeing” which I thought might be a good category to collate posts on general health and wellbeing but I did not find one and nor was I able to create one, so if anyone has any ideas on how to do it, please let me know.
In the meantime, I came across this article today and it is worth a read. It’s from a UK online newspaper article and may have access restrictions, but I was able to read it.
The article makes reference to a 2025 study and so includes “up-to-date” information. Historically, Rosemary has been in use for a long time and known to have various health and wellbeing benefits.
Very interesting. I did note it said rosemary can interact with blood thinners so definitely need to check that out with GP / pharmacist before taking if on blood thinners. I wonder if that just applies to things like warfarin or whether it affects thjngs like clopidogrel as well.
I would be really interested to know what people think about taking herbs and herbal supplements as I went ‘cold turkey’ on mine once i got diagnosed with ischaemic Strokes but they were really helping me , with pre existing health issues, and i can see a vast difference in my overall health in the last few
years.
Hi Val - unfortunately, I put these things on here without being a stroke survivor myself. That said, I personally believe that wherever possible I would choose to use herbal /ayurvedic medicines.
Wrt interactions with other medicines, that is also something to consider and it goes for any and all medications you might be taking or being asked to take.
This is my personal view and based on my observations of how things happened to me or to members of my family. Again, definitely my own view but I strongly feel we do not necessarily get the correct information from the healthcare professionals e.g. GPs or hospital consultants. I am saying this because I have read so many posts on here and have been shocked/surprised at actions taken/not taken by healthcare professionals helping/caring for our (this forum) members.
Of course, at all times we must be comfortable within ourselves with what we are doing.
I like Rosemary and other herbs and use them in my cooking or teas, but don’t take them as supplements. So for me personally, I think the risk of “overdosing” or adversely reacting with medications e.g. blood thinners would be considered low. With supplements, the dosages could be higher than through normal diet.
Having said that, there are just so many products and natural foods that are supposed to be beneficial for you and I personally simply cannot get them into my diet unless I sit there all day eating !!!
Thanks, I am not only worried about interactions , which you can actually look up online on the site drugs.com that a doctor told me about, (although they stress its not foolproof, )but also wonder if the damage done to the brain in Stroke makes herbs more risky afterwards, but the truth is I don’t think anyone knows.
Val - Absolutely! You’ve hit the nail on the head.
It is my belief that compared to other branches of medicine, next to nothing is actually known about Stroke survival and it is for this reason that there is so much disparity and inconsistency on how stroke survivors are treated and cared for.
We have to do the best we can and it is very much up to us how we progress and live with this condition. I understand totally why you are hesitant.
I note you say you went “cold turkey” after you got diagnosed with ischaemic stroke. Why did you go cold turkey? Did someone advise you to stop taking the herbs and herbal supplements?
Also, what medications are you on that may be affected by introduction of herbs/herbal supplements?
I wonder if it is worth considering using the herbals again especially if they were helping and now you see a vast difference (I assume you mean to be a negative rather than a positive)?
Perhaps you GP or stroke consultant if you still have one, or your pharmacist might be able to advise.
