Journal of Research in Medical Education & Ethics

The use of herbal supplements has increased dramatically in recent years. These products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the same level of scrutiny as conventional drugs. Patients who use herbal supplements often do so in conjunction with conventional drugs. There is a growing concern that serious interactions are occurring between prescribed/over the counter medicines and herbal medicines; as there is a lack of disclosure of herbal medicine used by patients.. It is suggested that health-care professionals should be more aware of the potential adverse interactions between herbal supplements and prescribed drugs and take appropriate precautionary measures to avoid these occurrences. However, as most of the interaction-information available is based on individual case reports, animal studies and in vitro data, further research is needed to confirm and assess the clinical significance of these potential interactions.