PURPOSE: There is sparse population-based data on health factors related to medicinal herb use and use of medicinal herbs in children. For a sample of American adults, we estimated the prevalence and frequency of medicinal herb use, factors related to use, reasons for use, patient-physician discussion, and the proportion of respondents who gave herbs to their children. METHODS: The data used in this study was from the 2001 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a population-based telephone survey of English-speaking adults (n = 2982). RESULTS: Approximately 20% of respondents reported using medicinal herbs in the past year. Of these, 34% reported discussion of herb use with a physician; 69% reported taking herbs to maintain health, 20% to prevent illness, and 11% to treat illness. Of the total sample, 7% reported using herbs everyday and 5% of the respondents reported giving their children herbal medicines in the past year. CONCLUSIONS: Medicinal herb use is common in this population sample. The lack of discussion between users and their physicians highlights the importance of patient-physician communication to avoid possible herb-drug interactions and surgical complications. Herb use appears to be a popular strategy for maintaining health. Children may be vulnerable to herbal toxicity and therefore clinicians need to know about their medicinal herb use and counsel appropriately.
PURPOSE: There is sparse population-based data on health factors related to medicinal herb use and use of medicinal herbs in children. For a sample of American adults, we estimated the prevalence and frequency of medicinal herb use, factors related to use, reasons for use, patient-physician discussion, and the proportion of respondents who gave herbs to their children. METHODS: The data used in this study was from the 2001 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a population-based telephone survey of English-speaking adults (n = 2982). RESULTS: Approximately 20% of respondents reported using medicinal herbs in the past year. Of these, 34% reported discussion of herb use with a physician; 69% reported taking herbs to maintain health, 20% to prevent illness, and 11% to treat illness. Of the total sample, 7% reported using herbs everyday and 5% of the respondents reported giving their children herbal medicines in the past year. CONCLUSIONS: Medicinal herb use is common in this population sample. The lack of discussion between users and their physicians highlights the importance of patient-physician communication to avoid possible herb-drug interactions and surgical complications. Herb use appears to be a popular strategy for maintaining health. Children may be vulnerable to herbal toxicity and therefore clinicians need to know about their medicinal herb use and counsel appropriately.
Authors: Michael D Knudtson; Ronald Klein; Kristine E Lee; Jennifer O Reinke; Lorraine G Danforth; Angela M Wealti; Emily Moore; Barbara E K Klein Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2007-09-24 Impact factor: 3.797
Authors: Olayemi M Adegbolagun; Benjamin O Emikpe; Ibukun Oluwa O Woranola; Yetunde Ogunremi Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 0.927
Authors: A Loraschi; P Bellantonio; F Bortolon; R Capra; P Cavalla; G Costantino; A Lugaresi; V Martinelli; M G Marrosu; F Patti; M Rottoli; M Salvetti; P Sola; C Solaro; C Klersy; F Marino; M Zaffaroni; M Cosentino Journal: Neurol Sci Date: 2016-02-19 Impact factor: 3.307