Expert: Cara Hembd - 7/19/2011

Question
I had asked this question to another expert, and although I appreciate her efforts, I did not get the answer I was looking for. I would also appreciate your knowledge and opinion on the subject.

This was my question:

My friend recently suffered from a pulmonary embolism. He is healthy, young and active. Eventually the doctors discovered he has a genetic blood clotting disorder. He has been on coumadin for a couple of months now but his INR is still too low. It does not seem to be working and he is experiencing anxiety and depression which he believes is due to the coumadin.

Through research I found that helichrysum is a good anti-coaggulant. I was wondering if you could tell me how effective you think it would be and how to use it. Does it get diluted? How is it applied? I was hoping that in conjunction with his medicine he would be able to see a difference and maybe one day come off the coumadin. I appreciate any knowledge you have on the subject.


I also understand that your advice/opinion/knowledge on this subject is not a substitute for medical advice.

Thanks

Answer
I am sorry it took so long to answer.  I am right in the middle of a home move.  I have a surface knowledge of the subject, however I would need to get my resources out and study the matter for a better answer.  Unfortunately my resources are packed at the moment.  I will do a follow up to your question the middle of next week when I am unpacked.

First it is very challenging to use pharmaceuticals and essential oils at the same time, though not impossible. An example of why this is difficult can be explained with a situation I had with my mother.  She has type 2 diabetes and takes insulin injections daily.  I had her start taking Coriander, which regulates blood sugar.  It worked so well that when she gave herself her insulin shot she ended up with too much insulin in her system and had an episode.  So if the oil helps regulate the system and then you put the pharmaceutical into your body you may get some undesired effects and it could be dangerous.  There are Naturopaths all over the country who work with essential oils and would be a wonderful source to oversee your friend's case.  They would be able to monitor symptoms,progress and best be able to suggest how to wean him off medication.

With that being said, I will have to study helichrysum in detail to give you a good answer on the specifics and with any other oil suggestions.  I will get back with you the middle of next week.