Herbal Supplements

HW499- Bachelor’s Capstone to Health and Wellness

Purdue University Global

Beth Colon
What Are Herbal Supplements?
• Plants
• Products derived from plants
• Preserve or Recover Health
• Ancient
Who Is More Likely to use Herbal Supplements?
• Advanced Age >70
• College Educated
• Comorbidities/Chronic Conditions
• 6.3 Billion dollars
Why Do People Use Herbal Supplements?
• Independence
• Lack of Healthcare/Insurance
• Distrust of doctors
• Rising costs of prescription meds
• Better than taking prescriptions?
 Benefits
• Fewer side effects
• Lowered chance of
poisoning/overdose
• Cheaper and easier
access
 Risks
• Taking supplements instead
of their prescribed meds
• Don’t tell their provider
• Taking too many/too much
• Not as regulated/ researched
Regulation
• Not as regulated as
pharmaceuticals
• Regulated as food and not
a drug
• Any claim on the bottle
Interactions
• St. John’s Wart heart meds, cancer drugs
• Sage, Flax Seed, Cranberry, Gogi Berry, Chamomile,
& Green Tea Cardiovascular Drugs/bleeding
• Fenugreek Diabetes, Warfarin
• Melatonin Benzos, Narcotics, Antidepressants, Warfarin
Conclusion
• Can be cheaper
• Can be safer
• Can be dangerous
• Do research
• Talk to your doctor
• Don’t believe all of the
hype!
References
• Diclofenac Prices, Coupons and Patient Assistance Programs. (n.d.). Drugs.com.
https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/diclofenac

• Gavura, S. (2010, August 5). Supplement Regulation: Be Careful What You Wish For.
Science Based Medicine.
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/supplement-regulation-be-careful-what-you-wish-for

• Herbal Medications and Prescription Drugs Don’t Always Mix. (n.d.). HealthLine.com.
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/herbal-medications-prescription-drugs-dont-
mix#When-herbals-hurt

• Keiley, L., & Bloyd, S. (n.d.). Herbs vs. Drugs: Get the Facts About Medicine. Mother Earth
News.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/herbs-vs-drugs-facts-about-medicine-
zmaz06djzraw/
References
• Rashrash, M., Schommer, J. C., & Brown, L. M. (2017). Prevalence and Predictors of Herbal
Medicine Use Among Adults in the United States. Journal of patient experience, 4(3), 108–
113. https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373517706612

• Simon, N. (2010, November 16). Most Patients Don't Tell Their Doctors They Take
Supplements. AARP.
https://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-11-2010/most_patients_dont_tell_th
eir_doctors_they_take_supplements.html