Tamoxifen

Grandma starts taking Tamoxifen today. The pharmacist gave her a list of natural health products to avoid. Grandma does not go to health stores to buy supplements. However, the list contains foods that Grandma eats. My mom searched the net to make sure she knows all the listed items and was glad she did. She didn't know anise is the spice we sometimes use in our cooking. She knows the Chinese name but not its English name. Wild yam is on the list and it is a relief to find out that it is not the yam and sweet potato we eat as foods. Grandma loves sweet potatoes.

The following are foods that Grandma should avoid:

* alfalfa
* anise (八角)
* bitter melon (苦瓜)
* dong quai (當歸)
* all types of ginseng (參)
* flaxseed
* licorice
* milk thistle