Hosp Pract (Off Ed). 1999 Jun; 34(6): 105-6, 109-12, 115-6 passim.

Medicinal herbs: a primer for primary care.

Hadley SK, Petry JJ.

Department of Family and Community Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, Vt., USA.

Used for centuries as folk remedies, herbs are enjoying a surge of public interest. Some empiric findings have been supported by formal research results. In order to advise patients about such preparations, physicians need to be aware of the indications, contraindications, drug interactions, and potential side effects. Eight popular herbs are reviewed.