Regulation of herbal medicines

Complementary and alternative medicine is an increasingly popular form of health intervention used by millions of people in the UK each year. The demand for such therapies has seen their use grow and many have been adopted by district nurses as a supplement to the treatment and care they provide their patients. The use of complementary and alternative medicine is largely unregulated and this has led to increasing call for more effective regulation to ensure patient safety. Of particular concern recently has been the need to regulate the use of herbal medicines. This article considers the proposals for the reform of herbal medicines and professional and legal implications for district nurses who use complementary and alternative medicine in their practice.