Counseling cancer patients about herbal medicine

Author(s): Boon, H. S.

Journal/Book: Patient Educ Couns. 1999; 38: Customer Relations Manager Bay 15, Shannon Industrial Estate CO, Clare, Ireland. Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd. 109-120.

Abstract: More than half of all cancer patients now use some form of complementary/alternative medicine, yet the majority of these patients do not disclose this use to their physicians. Health care practitioners need to educate themselves about the complementary/alternative medicine products their patients are using. Eight herbal products (astragalus, essiac, Asian ginseng, Siberian ginseng, green tea, garlic, Horsey formula and iscador) commonly used by cancer patients are reviewed here and a list of recommended reference texts is provided. In addition, health care providers are encouraged to initiate discussions about complementary/alternative products and therapies with their patients so that they may help them make safe and informed decisions about these products. Not knowing what patients are taking is definitely a less desirable option.

Note: Review Smith M, Canadian Coll Naturopath Med, 2300 Yonge St, 18th Floor, Box 2431, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4, CANADA

Keyword(s): herbal medicine; cancer; patient counseling; ACINOSA-POLYSACCHARIDES-I; MAMMARY DNA-ADDUCTS; UNCONVENTIONAL THERAPIES; GREEN TEA; UNITED-STATES; PANAX-GINSENG; DIFFERENTIAL INDUCTION; SIBERIAN GINSENG; NATURAL-KILLER; COLON-CANCER

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