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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Paula Gardiner, MD, Osher Institute, Harvard Medical School, 401 Park Drive Suite 22A-West, Boston, MA 02215, (617) 998-1002, Pgardine@massmed.org

Purpose: To examine the patterns of herbal therapy use among adults in the United States and to describe factors associated with herb use.

Methods: We examined the use of natural herbs from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). We analyzed factors associated with herb use with logistic regression.

Results: In the U.S., 18.6% of adults reported using an herb for their own health or treatment during the prior 12 months (2002). The following factors were associated with herb use: being older, uninsured, female, being educated, living in the West, using prescription medications or over the counter medications (OTC), and self identified as Non Hispanic other. Factors associated with no herb use include: being Non Hispanic black and living in the South or Midwest. Among adults who used herbs, the most commonly mentioned were: echinacea (41%), ginseng (25%), gingko (22%), and garlic (20%). The most frequent conditions for herb use were: head or chest cold (30%); musculoskeletal conditions (16 %); and stomach or intestinal illness (11 %). Seventy two percent of those who used herbs in the prior twelve months also used prescription medications; 21 % of prescriptions medication users used herbs. Over half of respondents who used an herb and a prescription medication did not disclose this to a conventional medical professional.

Conclusions: Nearly one in five persons in U. S, population report using an herb for treatment of health conditions and/or health promotion. Over half did not disclose this information to a conventional medical professional.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe the overall prevalence and patterns of herb use by U.S. adults and factors associated with herb use
• To describe the prevalence of specific herb use, medical conditions for which herbs are most commonly used an their perceived helpfulness
• To explore disclosure rates to health care professionals about herbal therapy use

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Herbal Medicine

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered