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Researchers at the MUHC in Montreal have documented a severe case of internal hemorrhaging in a patient who drank camomile tea and used camomile lotion while taking anticoagulant medication for a heart condition. The 70-year-old patient was admitted to the MUHC ER in Montreal after using camomile to help soothe her sore throat. The case, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) this week, highlights the need for caution when taking alternative (natural) therapies while on physician-prescribed medications.

The patient had been implanted with a mechanical valve and was taking an anticoagulant medication called warfarin, designed to thin the blood and reduce the chances of stroke. "Warfarin is an effective and reliable anticoagulant and as a result is used commonly," says Dr. Louise Pilote, an internist and epidemiologist at the MUHC and Associate Professor of Medicine at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. "We are aware of several herbal products that should not be taken with warfarin, such as garlic, onion and ginger, but this is the first time we have documented a life-threatening reaction when combined with camomile."

Warfarin is derived from coumarin, a chemical compound with anticoagulant properties found in many plants, including camomile. "It seems the camomile acted synergistically with the warfarin in this case," says Dr. Pilote. "Although this is a rare case, it highlights the potential dangers of mixing herbal remedies with physician-prescribed medications."

Camomile tea is taken to treat a range of ailments, including toothache, sore throats, digestive problems and insomnia — it is known as the night-time tea because it acts as a mild sedative. Camomile lotion is often used to treat the skin conditions psoriasis, eczema and acne, as well as helping soothe insect bites.

The Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Health Centre (MUHC) is a comprehensive academic health institution with an international reputation for excellence in clinical programs, research and teaching. The MUHC is a merger of five teaching hospitals affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University — the Montreal Children's, Montreal General, Royal Victoria, and Montreal Neurological Hospitals, as well as the Montreal Chest Institute. Building on the tradition of medical leadership of the founding hospitals, the goal of the MUHC is to provide patient care based on the most advanced knowledge in the health care field, and to contribute to the development of new knowledge.