Herbs and BC pill

[LittleFury]

I was just wondering about this. I'm on birth control pill, and I have to take herb bearberry leaf also knows as uvae ursi folia. I was wondering if that herb counteracts effect of birth control. BUt being paranoid freak that I am, we are still gonna be careful and either he won't be getting any for a few weeks or we'll be using condoms. If anyone knows, it would be of great help. Cuase all the sites I found don't really help.

[mmparks]

The chief constituent of Uva Ursi is a glycoside called arbutin, but jhave found no effect it would have on the Pill. Its used to cause the uterus to contract after childbirth, and is contraindicated during pregnancy and becuase of its effect ont he smooth muscles ( IE bladder, spleen, etc) So I dont think it would promote pregnancy.....However.. better safe than sorry

[LittleFury]

Yeah, in Russia it's also used to help I guess with UTI or other inflamations of urinary system. So yeah, we're headign off to buy a bunch of condoms now
THe wierd thing what I foud, is that actually chamomile might effect your pill...I didn't know that, and good thing I don't like the taste of it.

[mmparks]

Chamomile is nasty tasting...

Can I ask what youre taking Uva for? Or you can PM me if you prefer. Just being nosey I grow most of my own medicinal herbs and Im alwyas interested to hear others' experiences and uses of them

[Brandye]

This is used primarily as a homeopathic medicine. In Europe about one-third of physicians are homeopathic as opposed to allopathic. If you are treating with a physician, warnings should be available; if treating on your own, the pharmacist can give you the warnings. If this is from a "natural" food store, you are on your own. The only hormone interaction I have found would affect blood pressure and it should not affect the pill.

As far as I know, UTI is the primary use for the drug. You are correct in that chamomile has major interactions with estrogen. It is right up there with anti-biotics and megadosing vitamin E in causing "contraceptive failure."

[LittleFury]

Thanks Brandye. I feel somewhat less freaked out now. At the time I didn't have health insurance, good thing I was still able to go to the uni health center. Now I finally got health insurance, so I'm not as worried.
BUt good thing that I hate chamomile, because I am about to switch to a BC pill that has lower level of estrogen