Herbals and botanicals in geriatric psychiatry

There is high prevalence of herbal medicine use among elderly people. Most patients do not reveal their herbal use to their physicians and pharmacists. The authors describe some commonly used herbal remedies in terms of their potential benefits and known adverse effects. The review also highlights the potentially serious risk of herb-drug interactions and discusses communication issues and regulatory concerns associated with use of herbal medicines. Health practitioners should remember to include herbal use history in their routine drug histories and remain informed of the beneficial and harmful effects of these treatments.