Hydrocortisone okay with cat’s claw?

by Stephen Harrod Buhner | Mar 19, 2013 | Columns, Healing Lyme, interactions, The Basics | 3 comments

Dear Stephen,
I believe I am suffering from chronic neurological lyme and wanted to start on cat’s claw and knotweed. I am on 20mg low dose hydrocortisone steroid for my overactive immune system and have read that cat’s claw interacts with this drug. Is this true? Really want to try your herbs out ASAP. Kind regards.

Stephen’s response:
I have not heard of that before; I don’t see it in any of my books on contraindications for that herb.

Stephen

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Please note:

Stephen Buhner is no longer living and this Q + A column on Planet Thrive is closed to new questions. It will be kept on our website so readers can access vital information in the archives, communicate with each other in the comments section, and find herbs, books + lyme adjuncts in our directory. If you want to read more of Stephen’s writings, please see his website at: stephenharrodbuhner.com.

kathleen eickholt on October 30, 2013 at 8:54 pm

Actually, Cat’s Claw could possibly increase the blood levels of hydrocortisone in the body because hydrocortisone is metabolized by the CYP450 3A4 isoenzyme. The mechanism is decreased clearance of hydrocortisone due to inhibition of CYP450 3A4 activity by Cat’s Claw.
Yvonne on May 10, 2020 at 3:32 am

This conversation is dated. Is there another place to obtain more current information about herbal interactions and herb to drug interactions.
Elizabeth Judy on July 14, 2020 at 8:34 pm

Mr. Buhner has retired. I think they have posted where you can hire another herbalist to help you. There are also Facebook groups.