AIM: To compare advice provided by health food stores (HFS) and pharmacies in relation to medical conditions and assess the need for regulation of HFS. METHODS: We assessed the advice provided by 26 health food stores (HFS) and 26 pharmacies to an individual presenting with symptoms suggestive of moderate to severe asthma who had not seen a general practitioner. RESULTS: The advice provided by the two stores differed markedly. 22/26 pharmacy staff diagnosed asthma/probable asthma, whereas only 15/26 HFS staff reached the same conclusion. 92.3% of pharmacy staff compared to 34.6% of HFS staff referred the investigator to a doctor; 5 HFS advised the investigator against seeing a doctor. A wide variety of remedies were recommended by the HFS, none of which are known to be beneficial in the treatment of asthma. CONCLUSION: HFS promoting herbal products for medical conditions should be regulated in a similar fashion to shops that dispense pharmaceutical products.
AIM: To compare advice provided by health food stores (HFS) and pharmacies in relation to medical conditions and assess the need for regulation of HFS. METHODS: We assessed the advice provided by 26 health food stores (HFS) and 26 pharmacies to an individual presenting with symptoms suggestive of moderate to severe asthma who had not seen a general practitioner. RESULTS: The advice provided by the two stores differed markedly. 22/26 pharmacy staff diagnosed asthma/probable asthma, whereas only 15/26 HFS staff reached the same conclusion. 92.3% of pharmacy staff compared to 34.6% of HFS staff referred the investigator to a doctor; 5 HFS advised the investigator against seeing a doctor. A wide variety of remedies were recommended by the HFS, none of which are known to be beneficial in the treatment of asthma. CONCLUSION: HFS promoting herbal products for medical conditions should be regulated in a similar fashion to shops that dispense pharmaceutical products.