scholarly journals Effects of Herbal Medicine Use on Adherence to Conventional Anticancer Drugs

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Christine Karungi ◽  
Philip Asiimwe ◽  
Conrad Ssentongo ◽  
Sharon Primah Tuhaise ◽  
Joseph Oloro
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Anticancer Drugs ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Cancer Drugs ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Regional Referral Hospital ◽  
Anti Cancer

Background: Use of herbal medicines alongside conventional anticancer drugs is common among cancer patients. This may potentially cause reduced adherence to conventional anti-cancer drugs, unpredictable side effects and unknown drug-herb interactions. This in the long run could result in poor clinical outcomes. Aim: This study was conducted to investigate how use of herbal medicines affects adherence to conventional anti-cancer drugs, to determine the proportion of patients using both conventional and herbal anticancer medicines and to identify the common herbal medicines used alongside conventional anti-cancer drugs by patients at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Oncology unit. Methods and Findings: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the oncology clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital found in Mbarara district, Uganda. Data was collected between 20th March and 20th April 2019 from 122 participants who met the inclusion criteria with subsequent consenting. Our primary outcome was adherence and secondary outcome was to investigate whether cancer patients use herbal medicines alongside conventional anti-cancer drugs. Our study had 122 patients most of them belonging to the Banyankole tribe, 75 (61.5%) being males. Of the 72 (59.02%) patients who used herbal medicine, 40 (55.56%) were males and 66.67% of the herbal users reported relief from herbal medicines. Aloe Vera was the most commonly used herb. Most of the patients 77 (63.1%) showed high adherence, this was greater in the non-herbal users than in the herbal users (COR=1.62) though this was not significant (p=0.399). Conclusion: It is most likely that majority of cancer patients use at least one herb during their course of life. The results did not show a significant relationship between herbal medicine use and adherence to conventional anti-cancer drugs. The high proportion of herbal medicine users calls for more research into the area to provide further information that can help optimize cancer treatment outcomes.

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Herbal Medicine Use in Pregnancy Among Postnatal Mothers in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Western Uganda

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laban Muteebwa ◽  
Ali Ssetaala ◽  
Dan Muramuzi ◽  
Annet Nanvubya ◽  
Yunia Mayanja
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Regional Referral Hospital ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Western Uganda ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract BackgroundThere is widespread use of herbal medicines among populations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, pregnant women should be conscious about medication taken during pregnancy including herbal medicines because their safety profiles are not known and some of them might affect the mother, fetus and pregnancy outcomes. Knowledge about use and safety of herbs in pregnant women is limited. This study aimed to assess the extent of use and the factors associated with use of herbal medicine in pregnancy.MethodsA cross-sectional study involving 385 women 6 weeks post-partum and below, receiving post-natal services at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Western Uganda was conducted during May to August 2016. Simple random sampling was used to select participants. A structured pretested questionnaire was administered after written informed consent. Data was analyzed using logistic regression (STATA- 14).ResultsOf 385 respondents, 70.4% reported to have used herbal medicine during their most recent pregnancy. Associated factors were perception that herbal medicines are safe (aOR 9.8, 95% CI (4.2-23.0), perception that herbal medicines are important (aOR 12.4, 95% CI (5.2-29.5), staying more than 10KM from the heath facility (aOR 3.1, 95%CI (1.4-6.9), being a first time mother (aOR 2.6, 95%CI (1.1-6.2) and dissatisfaction with ANC services at health facility (aOR 2.6, 95%CI (1.1-6.3)ConclusionHerbal medicine use in pregnancy is common in the study area. Community Sensitization drives about the dangers of herbal medicine use in pregnancy is recommended. Healthcare workers should routinely screen for herbal medicine use during antenatal care visits and labor.

Widespread use of herbal medicines by people living with human immunodeficiency virus and contamination of herbal medicines with antiretrovirals in Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-377
Author(s):  
J Gini ◽  
A Amara ◽  
Sujan D Penchala ◽  
David J Back ◽  
L Else ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Street Vendors ◽  
Hiv Therapy ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

Herbal medication use amongst people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) is widespread and understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of herbal medicine use amongst PLWH and possible contamination with antiretrovirals (ARVs). Countrywide collection of herbal samples sold by street vendors in Nigeria for the following indications: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome, fever and general weakness. Samples were screened using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method for the presence of the following ARVs: efavirenz, nevirapine, lopinavir, darunavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, emtricitabine, tenofovir and lamivudine. A survey was conducted among 742 PLWH attending four HIV clinics in Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS statistics version 22.0 (IBM Corp., 2013, Armond, NY). Of the 138 herbal medicines sampled, three (2%) contained detectable levels of tenofovir, emtricitabine and/or lamivudine. Additionally, of the 742 PLWH surveyed, 310 (41.8%) reported herbal medicine use. Among the users, 191 (61.6%) started taking herbals after commencing HIV therapy while herbal medicine use preceded ARVs treatment in 119 (38.4%) PLWH. We found herbal use to be widespread among PLWH in Nigeria, with increasing use after commencing ARV. Three herbal preparations were also found to contain detectable levels of ARVs. This is a concern and should be studied widely across the region and countries where herbal medicine use is prevalent and poorly regulated.

scholarly journals Nephrotoxicity and Chinese Herbal Medicine

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1605-1611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Yang ◽  
Yun Xie ◽  
Maojuan Guo ◽  
Mitchell H. Rosner ◽  
Hongtao Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Aristolochic Acid ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Aristolochic Acids ◽  
Increase Risk ◽  
Plant Alkaloids

Chinese herbal medicine has been practiced for the prevention, treatment, and cure of diseases for thousands of years. Herbal medicine involves the use of natural compounds, which have relatively complex active ingredients with varying degrees of side effects. Some of these herbal medicines are known to cause nephrotoxicity, which can be overlooked by physicians and patients due to the belief that herbal medications are innocuous. Some of the nephrotoxic components from herbs are aristolochic acids and other plant alkaloids. In addition, anthraquinones, flavonoids, and glycosides from herbs also are known to cause kidney toxicity. The kidney manifestations of nephrotoxicity associated with herbal medicine include acute kidney injury, CKD, nephrolithiasis, rhabdomyolysis, Fanconi syndrome, and urothelial carcinoma. Several factors contribute to the nephrotoxicity of herbal medicines, including the intrinsic toxicity of herbs, incorrect processing or storage, adulteration, contamination by heavy metals, incorrect dosing, and interactions between herbal medicines and medications. The exact incidence of kidney injury due to nephrotoxic herbal medicine is not known. However, clinicians should consider herbal medicine use in patients with unexplained AKI or progressive CKD. In addition, exposure to herbal medicine containing aristolochic acid may increase risk for future uroepithelial cancers, and patients require appropriate postexposure screening.

scholarly journals Prevalence of the Use of Herbal Medicines among Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
John Baptist Asiimwe ◽  
Prakash B. Nagendrappa ◽  
Esther C. Atukunda ◽  
Mauda M. Kamatenesi ◽  
Grace Nambozi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Pooled Prevalence ◽  
Prevalence Estimates ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background. Although herbal medicines are used by patients with cancer in multiple oncology care settings, the magnitude of herbal medicine use in this context remains unclear. The purpose of this review was to establish the prevalence of herbal medicine use among patients with cancer, across various geographical settings and patient characteristics (age and gender categories). Methods. Electronic databases that were searched for data published, from January 2000 to January 2020, were Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, Embase, and African Index Medicus. Eligible studies reporting prevalence estimates of herbal medicine use amongst cancer patients were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Studies were grouped by World Bank region and income groups. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore source of heterogeneity. Results. In total, 155 studies with data for 809,065 participants (53.95% female) met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the pooled prevalence of the use of herbal medicine among patients with cancer was 22% (95% confidence interval (CI): 18%–25%), with the highest prevalence estimates for Africa (40%, 95% CI: 23%–58%) and Asia (28%, 95% CI: 21%–35%). The pooled prevalence estimate was higher across low- and middle-income countries (32%, 95% CI: 23%–42%) and lower across high-income countries (17%, 95% CI: 14%–21%). Higher pooled prevalence estimates were found for adult patients with cancer (22%, 95% CI: 19%–26%) compared with children with cancer (18%, 95% CI: 11%–27%) and for female patients (27%, 95% CI: 19%–35%) compared with males (17%, 95% CI: 1%–47%). Conclusion. Herbal medicine is used by a large percentage of patients with cancer use. The findings of this review highlight the need for herbal medicine to be integrated in cancer care.

scholarly journals Herbal medicine use and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Wollega University Referral Hospital, West Ethiopia.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Busha Gamachu Labata ◽  
Getu Bayisa Wakjira ◽  
Mohammed Gebre Dedefo ◽  
Ginenus Fekadu Mekonen ◽  
Eba Abdisa Golja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Unplanned Pregnancy ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Planned Pregnancy

Abstract Background: Herbal medications are plant-derived materials or products with therapeutic or other human health benefits, which contain either raw or processed ingredients from one or more plants. There are many different types of herbal medicine that spring from different cultures around the world. All these have the use of medicinal plants in common. Developing world general population relies on these traditional medicines for primary care. Besides, pregnant women use herbal medicines because of pregnancy related ailments and normal aliments. Therefore, the study aimed to assess prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Wollega University Referral Hospital. Method: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending Wollega University Referral Hospital antenatal care from May to June 2018. Written informed consent was obtained from study participants prior to data collection. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with herbal medicine use. Association was significant when p-value is less than 0.05. Result: A total of 238 pregnant mothers were participated in the study. The respondents’ age ranges from 17 to 46 years. The prevalence of herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Wollega University Referral Hospital was 66.40%. The use of herbal medicine during pregnancy was 3.885 times more likely among rural residents (AOR =3.885, 95% CI 1.121-13.47) than urban residents. Respondents who has monthly income between 1001 to 2000 Ethiopian Birr (AOR=2.585, 95% CI 1.125–5.940) were 2.585 times more likely to use Herbal medicine as compared to those who earn >3000 Ethiopian Birr. However, mothers of planned pregnancy (AOR=0.335, 95% CI 0.114-0.986) were less likely to use Herbal medicine as compared to those who had unplanned pregnancy. Conclusion: The prevalence of herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Wollega University Referral hospital was 66.40%. Commonly used herbs were Garlic (24.37%) and ginger (18.07%). Rural residence and low income had significantly associated to herbal medicine use while planned pregnancy was inversely associated to herbal medicine use.

scholarly journals The Prevalence and Predictors of Herbal Medicines’ Use in Cancer: A systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Baptist Asiimwe ◽  
Sarki Ahmed ◽  
Mauda Mugisha Kamatenesi ◽  
Esther Atukunda ◽  
Prakash PN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Medicines Use ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
The World ◽  
Economic Regions

The study aims to estimate the prevalence of herbal medicines use in cancer patients across the various regions of the world (geographical regions, economic regions) and establish the key predictors of herbal medicines use in those regions. The study will only synthesize literature from primary observational studies (cohorts and crosssectional study) reported in english between 2000 and 2020 (current). This study is evisaged to provide updated data on the magnitude of herbal medicine in cancer, that will in the end guide healthcare policy.

scholarly journals Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices Regarding Herbal Medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Catherine Santanello ◽  
Ashlyn Carr
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Reliable Information ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Article Type ◽  
Knowledge Survey ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: With the increase of herbal medicine sales and a lack of reliable information available to consumers, it is important for pharmacists to be knowledgeable about these products and have the ability to effectively counsel on their uses and risks. The purpose of this study was to: 1) assess community pharmacists’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding herbal medicines, 2) understand the impact pharmacists may have on their patients’ herbal medicine use, and 3) gauge what practices could be improved. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed to community pharmacists through email, social media, and in-person at local pharmacies. The survey consisted of general background questions, questions assessing perceptions and practices regarding herbal medicine, and a ten-question true/false quiz to assess knowledge. Survey data was collected and assessed using Qualtrics and Excel. Results: Of the 127 community pharmacists who completed the survey, only 34% were confident in their ability to effectively counsel patients on herbal medicines. Approximately 50% of pharmacists reported never or rarely asking patients about herbal medicine use and 80% reported never or rarely documenting herbal medicine use. Only 25% of pharmacists reported that they always discuss side effects and 19% reported that they always discuss herb-drug interactions when patients are using herbal medicines. The average quiz score assessing knowledge of herbal medicines was 6.06 out of 10. Conclusions: It is important for community pharmacists to be knowledgeable about herbal medicines and prepared to educate patients to ensure safe medication use. Pharmacists need to acknowledge the use of herbal medicine in their patients and always discuss potential side effects and herb-drug interactions. It is also important that pharmacists know where they can find reliable information on herbal medicines and use evidence-based resources when possible.   Article Type: Student Project

scholarly journals Prevalence and Correlates of Herbal Medicine Use among Women Seeking Care for Infertility in Freetown, Sierra Leone

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bai James ◽  
Lexina Taidy-Leigh ◽  
Abdulai Jawo Bah ◽  
Joseph Sam Kanu ◽  
Jia Bainga Kangbai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional

In resource-poor countries where access to infertility care is limited, women may turn to traditional medicine to achieve motherhood. It is unknown whether Sierra Leonean women with such condition use herbal medicine. This study investigates the prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use among women seeking care for infertility. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among women seeking care for infertility at various clinics within Freetown, Sierra Leone. Data analysis included Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Out of the 167 women that participated, 36.5% used herbal medicine for infertility treatment. Women with no formal (AOR 4.03, CL: 1.38–11.76, p=0.011), primary education (AOR: 6.23, CL: 2.02–19.23, p=0.001) and those that visited a traditional medicine practitioner (AOR: 20.05, CL: 2.10–192.28, p=0.009) as well as women suffering from other reproductive health problems (AOR: 2.57, CL: 1.13–5.83, p=0.024) were more likely to use herbal medicines. Friends and family (n=57, 96.7%) were the main influencers of herbal medicine use. Only (n=12) 19.7% of users disclosed their status to their healthcare provider. Over half (n=32, 52.5%) could not remember the name of the herb they used. Luffa acutangula (n=29, 100%) was the herbal medicinal plant users could recall. Herbal medicine use among women seeking care for infertility in Freetown is common. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential dyadic use of herbal and allopathic medicines by their patients and be knowledgeable about commonly used herbal remedies as well as being proactive in communicating the potential risks and benefits associated with their use.

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