ANSWER
Talk: Medicinal Safety and Herbal Preparations
Herbal remedies are generally seen as harmless because of their natural beginnings; nonetheless, this assumption may be false. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not control many herbal products, hence their quality, safety, and effectiveness are not assured. Lack of control in this regard can lead to contamination, varying potency, or interactions with recommended drugs. While ginseng and garlic can raise the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulants like warfarin, St. John’s Wort can lessen the efficacy of antidepressants, oral contraceptives, and some cardiovascular medications (National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH][ 2022).
Patients should be informed about these hazards absolutely. Patients should be urged to tell all the herbs they use as well as any drugs. Healthcare professionals have to look for any interactions and counsel against unsupervised use of herbal products, especially for patients on several drugs or those with chronic conditions. Education lowers the risk of side effects and helps people to make wise decisions. Patient safety has to always be first in all spheres of treatment.
Allusions
NCCIH, the national centre for complementary and integrative health. (2022) Herbs at a glance. taken from https://www.nccih.nih.gov.
QUESTION
Consumers think herbal preparations and medications are safe because of their association with nature. Many of these preparations are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. What precautions should you take regarding these supplements? Is it necessary to educate your patients regarding mixing medications and herbal preparations?
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