A Recent report by the British Heart Foundation warns of the possible effects some herbs have when taken in combination with modern medicines.

The most common herbs used in the West include St John's Wort, Gingko Biloba, Ginseng, garlic and Kava Kava. Herbs are a rich source of natural chemicals which can have a strong effect on the heart. For example, William Withering isolated digitalis from foxglove tea in 1785. Herbs such as figwort, black hellebore and hawthorn berries contain cardiac glycosides.

Indian and Chinese physicians have been monitoring herbs and foods more than 5,000 years, taking note of any side effects and recommending their use.

Herbal compound formulations for respiratory problems may contain herbs rich in ephedrine, which can cause an abnormal heart rate and raise blood pressure. Liquorice can cause retention of salt and increase blood pressure in predisposed patients.

St John's Wort can reduce the effect of herbs such as statins for reducing cholesterol and cyclosporin (taken by heart-transplant patients) and can cause rejection of the transplant . The humble clove of garlic can affect the properties of warfarin.

Patients with heart disease, diabetes, asthma or renal or liver disorders, should discuss with their doctor before taking herbal remedies or consult a doctor specialising in herbal medicine.

Ayurvedic medicine has established treatments for heart disease but often, the ingredients are not mentioned on the labels and the patient is unaware of what he or she is taking. For this reason, Britain has stringent rules for labeling.

As the incidence of heart disease is rising among Asians so they must discuss any Ayurvedic medicine they take with their doctor. Ayurvedic formulations tend to be more balanced in their combination of herbs to offer a protective effect.

But proper consultation with a qualified and experienced herbalist, Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor specialising in herbal medicine is vital when treating serious illness with herbal remedies. That said, evidence suggests most of the herbs are far safer than the majority of modern medicines.

My holistic programme combining a healthy lifestyle, diet, yoga, deep-breathing exercises, massage therapy and detoxification procedures, offers safe and effective self-healing in heart disease, along with the herbal or modern drug therapy.

The Ayurvedic herbs for heart disease which have been studied clinically are: Arjuna - terminalia arjuna, often combined with pomegranate seeds and embelica officinale (Indian gooseberry).

Other herbs such as fenugreek seeds and guggul gum help the heart by reducing cholesterol and helping sugar and fat control in the body.

To check herbal safety, log on to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency web site at www.mhra.gov.uk