Hosp Pract (Off Ed). 2001 Jul; 36(7): 57-60.

Medicinal herbs: answers and advice, part 1.

Petry JJ, Hadley SK.

Vermont Healing Tools Project, Brattleboro Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, Conn, USA.

Many herbal medicines have been used for centuries but have only recently been subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny. Fever-few, milk thistle, tea tree oil, and valerian are considered safe for use by most patients. All four appear to provide some benefits in treating or preventing illness, but the supporting evidence is inconclusive in some cases.