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Unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies
1Division of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. teresa-klepser@uiowa.edu
Summary
Pharmacists need education on herbal therapies due to rising use and limited FDA regulation. While some herbs like St. John's wort show potential, others like comfrey are unsafe.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Herbal Medicine
- Integrative and Complementary Medicine
Background:
- Increasing use of herbal therapies in the United States.
- Inadequate pharmacist education regarding herbal product safety and efficacy.
- Limited Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of herbal therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies.
- To highlight the need for pharmacist education on herbal products.
- To inform healthcare providers about the regulatory landscape and scientific evidence for herbs.
Main Methods:
- Review of identified unsafe herbs (e.g., borage, comfrey, ma huang).
- Identification of potentially safe herbs with clinical trial data (e.g., feverfew, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, saw palmetto, St. John's wort, valerian).
- Reference to evaluations by regulatory bodies like the German Commission E.
Main Results:
- Specific herbs identified as unsafe due to potential toxicity.
- Clinical trials suggest efficacy for certain herbs in conditions like migraine, hypertension, dementia, and depression.
- German Commission E provides indications and dosages for many herbal therapies.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacists must educate themselves to guide patients on herbal therapy risks and benefits.
- Evidence suggests some herbal therapies may be beneficial for specific health conditions.
- Informed patient counseling is crucial for avoiding harm and maximizing potential benefits from herbal products.