title: Chinese Herb Use by Patients at a San Francisco Chinatown Public Health Center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) use has not been well characterized in persons living in the United States who receive care by Western-trained healthcare providers. The primary objective of this study was to characterize use of CHM taken in the last 12 months by patients seen at a Chinatown public health center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection occurred over 3 months at a San Francisco Chinatown public health center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients visiting their primary care provider.
  
  
  METHODS
  Completion of a voluntary 24-question survey on CHM use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence, type, and indications for use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey response rate was 29% (50/170). Seventy percent (35/50) of respondents had used CHM in the last 12 months and 94% (33/35) were also taking prescription medicines. The three most commonly used CHM were goji berry (37%), Dioscorea (31%), and ginseng (23%). The most common indications for herbs used in the last 12 months were general wellness (34%), cold/flu (25%), and headache (6%). Sixty-four percent of respondents had used Western medicine in combination with CHM within the last 12 months. Sixty-nine percent of respondents who used CHM did not tell their Western provider about this use. No patient had CHM use documented in the electronic medical record.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients seen at a Chinatown public health center frequently used CHM products in conjunction with Western prescription medicines. Providers should routinely enquire about CHM use for health as a soup, tea, food, or pill and document this use in the medical record.
authors.affiliation: 1 Santa Clara Valley Medical Center , San Jose, CA.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: 2 Medication Outcomes Center, University of California , San Francisco, School of Pharmacy, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Candy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsourounis
authors.affiliation: 3 San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Lenny Lok Shun
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California , San Francisco, School of Pharmacy, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Cathi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dennehy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal