Mary Conley who has a doctorate in herbs did us all a great favor by
putting together a very useful list in the Ferret Mailing List of herbs
which can cause bleeding (anticoagulants).  Thanks, Mary!
 
If you write to <[log in to unmask]> with the message
SEND FERRET 3923 you can get it if you missed it, and later it will be on
http://listserv.cuny.edu/archives/ferret-search.html
 
This info below on herbs that can cause problems with drugs is from
_Herb-Drug Interaction Handbook_ by Sharon M. Herr, RD.  Do you have any
to add to it as general problems, Mary?  Of course, there will remain
specifics for certain drugs and herbs and since research is on-going
there will be more known over time.
 
A list of some herbs that can interfere with absorbing medications:
 
Acacia, Agar, Alginate, Aloe, Black Walnut, Bran, Buckthorn (Frangula),
Carrageenan Gum, Cascara Sagrada, Chamomile, Coffee, Fenugreek, Flaxseed,
Furcellaran Extract, Ghatti Gum Tree Exudate, Guar Gum, Iceland Moss,
Irish Moss/Red Algae, Karaya Gum Tree Exudate, Konjac, Locust Bean Gum,
Marshmallow Leaf, Oats, Okra fruit, Pectin, Psyllium, Quince Seed,
Rhubarb Root, Senna, Slippery Elm Bark, Tragacanth
 
(Some other types of meds have the possibility of causing interference
but they are less likely to be used without vets knowing.
 
ALL meds and supplements of any types should be checked with vets
BEFOREHAND.  Not all things that are safe for humans are safe for animals
and visa versa.
 
BTW, on the topic of anti-coagulants, many ferrets tolerate tiny amounts
of baby aspirin but not all do; we had one have a very bad intestinal
bleed-out which was too bad since she had a rare condition causing
thromboses so an anticoagulant would have been helpful, but she didn't
tolerate any of the range tried meaning that all we could finally try was
to reduce vitamin K levels by adding vitamin E.)
[Posted in FML issue 3924]