Natural and Modern Medicine Together: Can You Use Both Safely?

By Dr. Francis Kutin, ND, MPH | Naturopathic Physician and Medical Science Communicator | BF Naturopathic Health Care and Research, Agona Duakwa, Central Region, Ghana
Published and last reviewed: 13th November 2026

Across Africa, natural medicine is not a trend. It is heritage. Grandmothers brewing leaves for fever, herbalists treating a whole village, a bottle of bitters on the table next to the hospital tablets: for millions of people, herbs and hospital medicine live side by side. But today people are asking sharper questions. “Can I drink my herbs and take my tablets together?” “Why does my doctor get angry when I mention herbs?” “Which one is stronger?” “Why did my herbal treatment fail, or make me sicker?” This article answers these questions with respect for tradition and honesty about science, because the best care often uses both, but only when they are used safely.

Stop the herbal product and see a health worker urgently if, after mixing herbs with medicines, you develop yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, severe dizziness or fainting, a racing or irregular heartbeat, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe vomiting, a rash with swelling, confusion or extreme drowsiness. Bring the herbal product and your medicines with you.

Key Takeaways

• Natural medicine and modern medicine are not enemies. In Ghana, the government itself has been integrating herbal medicine units into public hospitals.
• Herbs are active chemicals. Some change how medicines work, making them weaker, stronger or more toxic.
• The most dangerous mixes involve medicines for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, epilepsy, diabetes, blood pressure, blood clotting, thyroid disease and cancer.
• Always tell your doctor, pharmacist and herbalist about everything you take. Honesty saves lives, and good health workers do not scold.
• Never stop prescribed medicine for a herb. For serious infections and chronic diseases, proven medicine comes first, with natural approaches as support.

Natural Medicine in Ghana: The Reality

• Studies of Ghanaian communities show that roughly 7 in 10 people use herbal medicines, with about 76% having used them at some time. About 57% used them hoping to cure diseases.
• Ghana has a long record of working with traditional medicine. The Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine at Mampong-Akuapem has collaborated with traditional practitioners since 1975, and the Ministry of Health has a Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate.
• In 2011 the government began piloting herbal medicine units in 17 public hospitals, where medical herbalists work beside doctors. The Health Minister has since reported that around 40 hospitals have integrated traditional medicine units, and later statements speak of more than 55 herbal units, with plans to bring herbal medicine under national health insurance. Figures differ between statements, but the direction is clear.
• The same officials stress the need for standardisation, quality assurance and strict regulation of herbal products. Practitioners are licensed by the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, and herbal medicines are meant to be registered with the FDA.

So using both systems is not unusual or “primitive”. The question is how to do it safely.

Why Mixing Herbs and Medicines Can Be Risky

A herb is not just “leaves”. It contains dozens of chemicals. When swallowed with a medicine, two things can happen:

• The herb changes how the body handles the medicine. Some herbs speed up the liver’s breakdown of drugs (so the medicine becomes too weak), and others slow it down (so it builds up to toxic levels).
• The herb and the medicine have the same effect, so together they are too strong, for example both lowering blood sugar, blood pressure or clotting.

Most herbs have never been tested with medicines, so the risks are often unknown. Hospital medicines come with warnings and doses. Herbal products often do not.

Examples of Risky Combinations

Herb or product	Medicine it may affect	What can happen
St John’s wort	Some HIV medicines, contraceptive pills, antidepressants, epilepsy medicines, blood thinners, transplant drugs	Medicines become less effective, risking treatment failure, unplanned pregnancy or transplant rejection. Can also cause serotonin toxicity with antidepressants.
Hibiscus (sobolo)	Hydrochlorothiazide, chloroquine, diclofenac, blood pressure tablets	Changes in drug levels, low blood pressure. See our sobolo article.
Garlic supplements	Saquinavir (an HIV drug) and blood thinners	Lower drug levels, or increased bleeding.
Ginger or turmeric supplements	Blood thinners such as warfarin and aspirin	Higher bleeding risk. See ginger and turmeric.
Black seed, bitter melon, fenugreek, cinnamon, moringa, neem	Diabetes tablets and insulin	Blood sugar can drop too low. See black seed, moringa and neem.
Ashwagandha	Thyroid medicine, sedatives, immune-suppressing drugs	Hormone imbalance, excess drowsiness, effects on immunity. See our ashwagandha article.
Seaweed and sea moss	Thyroid medicine and anti-thyroid drugs	Excess iodine upsets thyroid control. See our sea moss article.
Liquorice-containing mixtures	Blood pressure tablets and water tablets	Liquorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, working against treatment.
Alcoholic bitters	Metronidazole (a common antibiotic), paracetamol, sedatives and many others	Severe vomiting and flushing with metronidazole, liver strain, dangerous drowsiness.
Unregistered herbal mixtures	Almost any medicine	Unknown contents can cause liver or kidney harm, and some contain undeclared drugs.
Herbal “malaria” or “typhoid” mixtures	Antimalarials and antibiotics	Delay in proper treatment, possible liver strain and unknown interactions.

This list is only a sample. If you take any prescription medicine, ask before adding a herb.

Two Systems, Two Strengths

Where modern medicine leads	Where natural approaches can support
Infections such as malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, HIV and meningitis	Good nutrition, hydration and rest during recovery
Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease	Healthy food, exercise, stress reduction, and modest add-ons such as some spices
Cancer, surgery, emergencies and complications of pregnancy	Comfort, relaxation, nutrition and emotional support
Accurate diagnosis through tests and scans	Holistic attention to the person, community and lifestyle
Proven, dosed, quality-controlled medicines	Traditional knowledge that guides research for new medicines

As a naturopathic doctor, my view is simple: diagnose properly, treat what is proven, and use natural care to support the person. See our guide to natural medicine and chronic disease in Ghana for more.

Ten Rules for Using Both Safely

1. Tell everyone. Tell your doctor, nurse and pharmacist about your herbs, and tell your herbalist about your medicines.
2. Bring the products. Show the bottle, packet or a clear photo of the label, or a sample of the plant.
3. Keep a medicine list that includes herbs, bitters, teas, supplements and painkillers, and carry it with you.
4. Never stop a prescribed medicine because of a herb or someone’s advice.
5. Do not assume that spacing doses apart prevents interactions. Many interactions happen inside the body, whatever the timing.
6. Add one product at a time, so you can tell what is causing a problem.
7. Choose registered products with an FDA registration number, and avoid cure claims. Check at fdaghana.gov.gh.
8. Use food-level amounts first, such as ginger or garlic in cooking, rather than strong extracts or mixtures.
9. Be extra careful if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, a child, elderly, or have liver, kidney or heart disease. See Herbal Medicine in Pregnancy and Labour in Ghana: The Facts.
10. Stop herbs before surgery, usually about two weeks before, and tell the surgeon and anaesthetist.

“Will My Doctor Be Angry?” How to Talk About Herbs

Many people hide herbal use because they fear being scolded. This is one of the biggest risks to safety, because health workers cannot protect you from interactions they do not know about. Good health workers want to know. You can say:

• “I also take a herbal drink for my blood pressure. Can you tell me if it is safe with my tablets?”
• “My family gave me this herbal mixture. Here is the bottle. What is in it, and should I continue?”
• “I want to use both. Please help me do it safely.”

If a health worker is dismissive, ask a pharmacist, or seek another opinion. And if you see a herbalist, ask: “Do you know which medicines I take? Will this affect them? When should I go to hospital instead?” A responsible herbalist will welcome these questions and will refer you when needed.

What Health Workers and Herbalists Can Do Together

• Health workers: Ask every patient about herbs without judgement, record them and explain risks clearly.
• Herbalists and traditional healers: Be honest about what each product contains and what it can and cannot treat, ask about the patient’s medicines and refer promptly for danger signs such as a child’s fever lasting more than a day or two, convulsions, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, severe pain, a pregnant woman in trouble, or chronic conditions like diabetes, HIV and cancer.
• Regulators: Keep testing and registering products, and act against false claims.
• Researchers: Study Ghanaian plants properly, including their interactions with medicines.

Myths and Facts

Myth	Fact
“Herbs have no side effects because they are natural.”	Plants contain powerful chemicals. Some cause liver or kidney harm, interact with medicines or are poisonous.
“Doctors hate herbal medicine.”	Many medicines come from plants, and Ghana’s own hospitals now include herbal units. Good doctors want to know what you take.
“Hospital medicine is full of chemicals, herbs are pure.”	Everything is chemical. The difference is that tested medicines have known doses and quality checks.
“If I take the herb at a different time, it is safe.”	Many interactions occur inside the body regardless of timing.
“The herb failed because I did not have enough faith.”	Many herbal treatments fail because the dose, plant or diagnosis was wrong. Sickness is not a punishment.
“I must choose either herbs or hospital.”	You can use both, with advice, and proven treatment first for serious illness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take herbal medicine with my prescription tablets?
Sometimes, but only after checking with a pharmacist or doctor, because some herbs change how medicines work.

Which is stronger, herbal or hospital medicine?
Neither is “stronger” in general. For infections and chronic diseases, tested medicines have the strongest evidence. Herbs may support health or relieve minor complaints.

What should I do if I have been taking herbs and tablets together?
Tell your health worker, bring the products and watch for warning signs. Do not suddenly stop your prescribed medicine.

Are herbal clinics in government hospitals safe?
They are meant to be better regulated, with trained medical herbalists working alongside doctors, but still ask about ingredients and interactions.

Why do some herbs “work” for others but not for me?
Different people, doses, plant quality, illnesses and expectations all matter. A proper diagnosis is the first step.

Is it safe to use herbs during pregnancy?
Many are not. Ask your midwife before taking any herb, tea or supplement.

How do I know a herbalist is genuine?
Look for a licence from the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, FDA-registered products, honest answers, no cure-all claims and willingness to refer you.

Conclusion

Africa’s faith in natural medicine is a strength, and Ghana’s hospitals now recognise it. But belief alone does not protect the liver, the kidneys or the heart. Safe care means honest conversations, registered products, proper diagnosis and the humility to know when a herb is not enough. Bring your herbs to your doctor, bring your questions to your herbalist, and keep taking the medicines that are keeping you alive. Used wisely together, the old knowledge and the new science can serve us all.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Herbal products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Consult a qualified healthcare professional or pharmacist before combining any herb or supplement with your medicines. See our full Medical Disclaimer.

References and Further Reading

• Prevalence, patterns and beliefs about the use of herbal medicinal products in Ghana: a multi-centre community-based cross-sectional study. PubMed.
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses of the integration of biomedical and herbal medicine units in Ghana using the WHO Health Systems Framework. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018.
• World Health Organization Africa. Traditional healers broaden health care in Ghana.
• Modern Ghana. 40 hospitals have integrated traditional medicine units, to be covered by NHIS: Health Minister.
• Ghana News Agency. Traditional medicine vital to Ghana’s healthcare system: Health Minister, November 2025.
• Traditional Medicine Practice Council, Ghana. Operational guidelines for integrating herbal medicine practice.
• Drugs.com. Hibiscus: professional monograph (interactions and safety).

About the Author

Dr. Francis Kutin, ND, MPH, is a naturopathic physician, public health researcher and medical science communicator based at Agona Duakwa in the Central Region of Ghana. He writes about health education, naturopathic health care and evidence-informed wellness through BF Naturopathic Health Care and Research. Contact us.