title: Herbal medicine.
abstract: Generalized statements about herbal medicines are nonsensical, and each remedy has to be evaluated on its own merits. Some herbal treatments can be shown to have a favorable risk-benefit profile, but for most herbal medicines the data are insufficient to determine whether they do more good than harm. The research required to fill the gaps in present knowledge should have a high priority.
authors.affiliation: Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom. E.Ernst@exeter.ac.uk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pittler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations