Advising patients about herbs and nutraceuticals: tips for primary care providers.
Herbs and nutraceuticals are commonly used in many households in the United States. This article discusses supplement use patterns and offers resources for primary care providers wishing to counsel patients more effectively about dietary supplements. Supplement safety issues, types of herbal formulations, and a summary of the uses, doses, side effects, and evidence ratings for 10 commonly used herbs and 11 commonly used nutraceuticals are provided.
Lovett
Erica
E
Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency, 76 High Street, Lewiston, ME 04210, USA. lovetter@cmhc.org
Ganta
Neelima
N
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D037001:Directive Counseling; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011320:Primary Health Care