title: Use of herbal medicines by elderly patients: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to survey the published literature for articles that describe the use of herbal supplements by elderly patients and to summarize important aspects of selected studies, including most commonly used supplements, study type, study location, and potential hazards of herbal supplement use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature searches were conducted on three scientific/medical databases: Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus. Search results were examined for articles involving the use of herbal products in the elderly population that met selection criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial searches yielded 1297 articles. Of these original results, only 16 met specific selection criteria. Twelve (75%) of studies identified were performed in North America. Nine studies (56.25%) were conducted in the United States. Seven of the studies were cross-sectional (43.8%). The most commonly reported were gingko biloba, garlic, ginseng, aloe vera, chamomile, spearmint, and ginger. Of these, gingko and garlic are the most commonly used among community-dwelling elderly. Both of these supplements have the potential to interact with anticoagulants and produce bruising or bleeding problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of herbal supplements is common among the elderly, a population that takes a disproportionate share of prescription medications compared to that taken by younger populations. Among the problems uncovered by these studies was a lack of dialog between medical professionals and patients about the use of herbal supplements. Prescribers need to consider the use of herbal supplements and discuss the matter with their elderly patients when making decisions about pharmacological treatments.
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: José Edson
authors: JE
authors: de Souza Silva
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Carlos Adriano
authors: CA
authors: Santos Souza
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Tamara Bispo
authors: TB
authors: da Silva
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Isla Alcântara
authors: IA
authors: Gomes
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Giselle de Carvalho
authors: Gde C
authors: Brito
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Adriano Antunes
authors: AA
authors: de Souza Araújo
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Divaldo Pereira
authors: DP
authors: de Lyra-Júnior
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil.
authors: Wellington Barros
authors: WB
authors: da Silva
authors: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49100-000, Brazil. Electronic address: farmsilva@uol.com.br.
authors: Francilene Amaral
authors: FA
authors: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
keywords: Complementary alternative medicine; Elderly; Herbal drug; Medicinal plants; Older people