- 1a
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the Department of Pediatrics ,
University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
- 2b
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, the Department of Pathology ,
University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
- 3c New Zealand School of Pharmacy , University of Otago , New Zealand.
- 4d Pentskiff Inc ., Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
- 5e
- Division of Toxicology, Center of Medicine , All-Russian Research
Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (VILAR) , Moscow , Russia.
- 6f - Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Herbal
medicine (HM) use is growing worldwide. Single herb preparations,
ethnic and modern HM formulations are widely used as adjunct therapies
or to improve consumer wellbeing. Areas covered: This final part in the
publication series summarizes common tendencies in HM use as adjunct or
alternative medicine, education of healthcare professionals and
consumers, current and proposed guidelines regulating of production. We
discuss potential HM-HM and HM-drug interactions that could lead to
severe adverse events in situations where HMs are taken without proper
medical professional oversight. Expert commentary: A number of serious
problems have arisen with the steady global increase in HM use. HM
interaction with conventional drugs (CD) may result in inadequate dosing
of CD or adverse reactions; HM-HM interaction within herbal
supplements could lead to toxicity of formulations. Inadequate
education of clinicians and patients regarding medicinal properties of
HMs must be addressed regionally and globally to ensure consumer safety.
KEYWORDS:
adjunct medicine; alternative antimicrobial herbal medicine; dietary supplements; herbal medicines; herbal-herbal and herbal-drug interaction