Can I Take Garlic, Folic Acid & Goldenseal Together?

Vitamins, minerals and herbs that come in the form of pills, capsules, powders or liquids are collectively known as dietary supplements. Certain supplements can make important contributions to your overall health at specific times in your life. Most healthy women of childbearing age, for example, can benefit from iron and folic acid supplementation. Supplements are not subjected to the same testing undergone by traditional medications, according to the National Institutes of Health. Check with your physician before taking supplements of any kind, especially if you take any prescription medications or you commonly take aspirin or other common over-the-counter drugs.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, also known as vitamin B-9. It’s essential to the manufacture and maintenance of all cells and it helps prevent anemia. The presence of folate or folic acid is especially critical for rapid cell division, as during fetal growth, infancy and childhood. Folate occurs naturally in green leafy vegetables, dried beans and citrus fruits. Many grain products are enriched with folic acid, which is also available in supplemental form. Folic acid interferes with the absorption of the antibiotic tetracycline, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. When taken for a long time, certain drugs may increase your body’s need for folic acid, including birth control pills, anticonvulsant drugs for seizures and cholesterol-lowering medications.

Garlic

Garlic is a food, seasoning and medicinal supplement that’s been used for its numerous health benefits since ancient times. Garlic inhibits blood coagulation, which supports a healthy circulatory system and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, strokes and thrombosis. Garlic also possesses antibiotic, antiviral, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal properties, according to the book “Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine,” and helps lower blood glucose levels. Because it acts as a blood thinner, taking garlic with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, celecoxib and warfarin, can increase your risk of bleeding or bruising. Anticoagulant herbal supplements that shouldn’t be taken concurrently with garlic include ginger, tumeric, anise, red clover and ginkgo biloba.

Goldenseal

The Cherokee used goldenseal as an antiseptic for inflammation, to soothe upset stomach and sore eyes, and treat diarrhea and earaches. Goldenseal is currently used as an antiseptic and astringent and a natural antibiotic. It is also used to treat digestive distress, canker sores, sore throats and infected gums. The main components responsible for goldenseal’s medicinal activity are the alkaloids berberine and hydrastine. Berberine exerts powerful antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant activity, and studies show that both berberine and hydrastine are beneficial to circulatory and heart health. Berberine, however, may interfere with the absorption of the antibiotic tetracycline, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. When taken in large doses, goldenseal may reduce the absorption of B vitamins, including folic acid, according to “The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide.”

Considerations

Your body eliminates excess folic acid through urine. Consequently, the risk of folic acid toxicity is very low. Some studies indicate, however, that high levels of folic acid can cause seizures in epileptic patients who take anticonvulsant medications, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Hydrastine, one of the primary constituents of goldenseal, is dangerously toxic in large doses, making large doses of goldenseal poisonous. Goldenseal is not recommended for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure.
When taken together, goldenseal may reduce the effectiveness of folic acid. Garlic doesn’t interfere with folic acid or goldenseal, and folic acid does not have an adverse effect on garlic. Always check with your healthcare provider before taking one or more dietary supplements to prevent adverse side effects.