Many of our patients use herbal remedies. Herbal remedies are becoming more and more popular. It is important that we, as clinicians, become more aware of the additional therapies our patients are using. We do need to be tactful when inquiring about what additional therapies our patients are seeking so as not to appear judgmental and destroy the trust that we try to develop. For example, some use massage, herbs, vitamins, etc.
Many healthcare providers express concern when discussing herbal products.
Herbs are not magical. They can inflict harm. Modern herbalists many times depend on the sixteenth and seventeenth century writings of Gerard and Culpeper for therapeutic advice instead of researching the botany, chemistry, and pharmacology of the herb. Another concern is the myth that herbal products, because they are natural, are superior over the same product produced in the chemical laboratory. There is no difference for instance in the vitamin C in rose hips and the vitamin C obtained by synthetic process.