Telling Your Doctor About Ayurvedic Use: A Practical Guide

Why tell your doctor

Telling your providers about complementary health practices helps you stay in control and manage your health more effectively. [1] Supplements can decrease the effects of some medicines and increase the effects of others, including unwanted side effects. [2] For many medicines and supplements there is little information on possible interactions, and more research is needed. [2] Your doctor cannot check for a problem they do not know about.

For Ayurvedic products there is a second reason. Some preparations may contain lead, mercury, or arsenic in amounts that can be toxic. [3] The FDA asks health care providers to ask patients about their use of all products, including ayurvedic products. [4]

What to say

You do not need to defend the choice. A plain statement works:

• "I also see an Ayurvedic practitioner."
• "I take these herbal products. Here is the list."
• "I am thinking about starting something new. What do you think about safety and interactions with my medicines?"

NCCIH suggests asking your providers about a new practice's safety, effectiveness and possible interactions with medicines, both prescription and nonprescription. [1]

What to bring

• A written list of everything you take, how often, and the doses. [2]
• The product bottles or boxes, if you can, so ingredients and the maker are visible.
• The practitioner's name and what they have recommended.
• Include everything, "from acupuncture to zinc," on your patient history form. [1]

Tell them at every visit

Say it at each visit, not once. Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and dietary and herbal supplements, and make a list in advance. [1] Do not wait to be asked. [1]

Say it before procedures and with certain medicines

People who take medicines with a narrow therapeutic index (digoxin, cyclosporine, warfarin and others) should take special care to tell their providers about herbal supplements. [2] See Ayurvedic herbs and prescription medicines, with diabetes, thyroid and blood pressure medicines and before surgery or during cancer treatment.

If your doctor is not enthusiastic

Doctors may be unfamiliar with Ayurveda or concerned about products. Ask what specifically worries them: a possible interaction, a symptom that needs tests, or product quality. A pharmacist is another good person to ask about interactions. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own. Do not use Ayurvedic medicine to postpone seeing a conventional provider about a medical problem. [3]

Tell your practitioner too

Tell all practitioners about each other. NCCIH advises telling all your providers about the approaches you use and about all practitioners treating you. [5] Ask your Ayurvedic practitioner whether they are willing to work with your doctor. [5] See using Ayurveda alongside conventional care.

If you think a product harmed you

Talk to your provider or a poison center (1-800-222-1222) if you have symptoms of possible heavy metal poisoning, and report suspect products to the FDA's MedWatch program. [4] See reporting problems. For emergencies, call 911.