Use Of Herbs Research Articles

Investigation of medication use patterns among pregnant women attending a tertiary referral hospital

Background and Aims: Medication use during pregnancy presents a challenge and concern for pregnant women and healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to explore patterns and factors associated with medication use by pregnant women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic of a tertiary referral hospital in Turkey. Data were collected by a questionnaire between October 2019 and January 2020. The questionnaire was consisted of 35 questions about participants’ attitudes towards the use of medication. The sociodemographic features, medication and herbal product use during the current pregnancy, and participants’ attitudes towards the use of medication were investigated. Results: A total of 485 pregnant women were included in the study. The prevalence of using at least one medication during the current pregnancy was 45.6%, whereas herbal product use was 3.9%. Overall, 10.5% of participants used medication to treat chronic/long-term diseases before pregnancy. The most frequently used drugs were agents for nervous system (32.8%), followed by anti-infective drugs (20.8%) and agents for the alimentary tract and metabolism (19.2%). Participants with university degree or higher education, who had chronic disease before pregnancy, who had one or more previous pregnancies, who had a planned current pregnancy, who were in the second or third trimester, and who were unemployed were likely to use at least one medication. Conclusion: Medication use is common in pregnancy and is associated with several maternal factors. The factors affecting medication use during pregnancy should be considered in order to incorporate them into clinical pharmacy practice when treating groups that need to be followed more closely in terms of drug use.

Acute oxalate nephropathy associated with herbal remedies

The use of herbal remedies has grown in recent years, largely due to their increased production and the media advertisements which target their use for the cure of almost all symptoms. Herbal remedies have also become popular in multi-plant forms and have recently become available in both industrial and condensed formulations, with higher doses being administered. We report a 68-year-old woman presenting with symptoms of flank pain, nausea, vomiting, anuria, and hematuria. She has history diabetes mellitus, hypertension and use of herbal including Achillea millefolium and Thymus migricus, Nasturtium for the last four months. Kidney biopsy was performed and was diagnosed with oxalate nephropathy. After the use of herbals was stopped, creatinine levels returned toward normal value in the following months with no complications. Herbal remedies would cause severe organ failures if administered in high-doses and should be considered as a possible cause in patients presenting with AKI.

Exploring the Roles of Dietary Herbal Essential Oils in Aquaculture: A Review.

Simple SummaryEssential oils, also known as aetheroleum, have a variety of therapeutic properties, including analgesic, adaptogen, and astringents, among others. Essential oils have potential growth-promoting, antibacterial, and immunostimulant effects for several fish species. Furthermore, they potentiate the antioxidative capacity and the resistance of aquatic animals against infectious diseases. This article spotlights on the essential oils derived from selected medicinal plants, and their roles in the improvement of the performances of aquatic animals.The aquaculture sector is one of the main activities contributing to food security for humanity around the globe. However, aquatic animals are susceptible to several farming stressors involved in deteriorated growth performance, reduced productivity, and eventually high mortality rates. In some countries still, antibiotics and chemotherapies are comprehensively applied to control biotic stressors. Aside from the apparent benefits, the continuous usage of antibiotics develops bacterial resistance, deteriorates bacterial populations, and accumulates these compounds in the aquatic environment. Alternatively, environmentally friendly additives were used to avoid the direct and indirect impacts on the aquatic ecosystem and human health. In aquaculture, medicinal herbs and extracts are extensively used and approved for their growth-promoting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties. Herbal essential oils contain many bioactive components with powerful antibacterial, antioxidative, and immunostimulant potentials, suggesting their application for aquatic animals. Essential oils can be provided via diet and can benefit aquatic animals by improving their well-being and health status. The use of essential oils in aquafeed has been studied in a variety of aquatic animals to determine their beneficial roles and optimum doses. The outputs illustrated that herbal essential oils are exciting alternatives to antibiotics with prominent growth promotion, antioxidative, and immunostimulant roles. Herein, we reviewed the beneficial roles of essential oils in aquaculture. This review also aims to describe trends in herbal essential oils use, mainly in commercial fish species, and to analyze different factors that affect essential oils’ efficacy on the growth performance, antioxidative, and immune responses of finfish species.

Cumulative incidence of and risk factors for herpes zoster among patients with diabetes mellitus: Results from a 10-year nested case-control study

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known risk factor for herpes zoster (HZ). Data specific to the incidence of and risk factors for HZ among Thai DM patients are scarce. MethodsThis nested case-control study evaluated a 10-year cohort of DM patients (N = 1428) treated at Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand). We included 40 cases with ≥1 episode of HZ, and we randomly sampled 175 non-HZ controls. Data were obtained from chart review and the ICD-10 diagnosis code, pharmacy database, and laboratory database. ResultsDuring 2005–2014, the cumulative incidence and incidence rate of HZ among all study patients was 2.80% [95%CI: 2.00–3.79%] and 3.96 [95%CI: 2.90–5.28] per 1000 person-years, respectively. The most common site was trunk (27.5%) followed by zoster ophthalmic (22.5%). Only 1 case required hospitalization. Independent risk factors for HZ included underlying hypertension [aOR: 3.48, 95%CI: 1.28–9.43; p = 0.01], number of hypoglycemic drugs used [aOR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.03–2.08; p = 0.04], and previous herbal remedy use [aOR: 3.83, 95%CI: 1.06–13.84; p = 0.04]. Higher body mass index was a protective factor against HZ [aOR: 0.89, 95%CI: 0.81–0.98; p = 0.02]. ConclusionThe incidence of HZ among DM patients at our center is comparable to other Asian countries. The identified independent risk factors can be used to discern patients who would benefit most from preventive interventions.

Survey of Raspberry Leaf Tea in pregnancy.

Raspberry leaf tea (RLT) is a traditional herb purported to help with many pregnancy-related outcomes including reducing the duration of labour. No experimental data exist to support these claims. This study aims to determine how common use and knowledge of RLT are during pregnancy. It also aims to explore whether it would be possible to recruit women for a trial of raspberry leaf in the future. Postnatal women were asked to fill in a survey about their use of RLT during pregnancy, and their knowledge of its purported benefits. They were asked whether they would consider being part of a randomised controlled trial of raspberry leaf in the future. One hundred and twenty-one women completed the survey. Of these, 88 (73%) were aware of herbal tea use in pregnancy and 46 (38%) reported using raspberry leaf during pregnancy. Of all women surveyed, 79% indicated they would be happy to participate in a trial of RLT in pregnancy if they were asked. Despite no scientific evidence of the efficacy of RLT in pregnancy, 38% of women surveyed used it during pregnancy. Further studies are required to determine whether the claims made about RLT are correct. Clinicians should base their advice on available evidence.

Metabolite Fingerprinting Based on 1H-NMR Spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography for the Authentication of Herbal Products.

Herbal medicines (HMs) are regarded as one of the traditional medicines in health care to prevent and treat some diseases. Some herbal components such as turmeric and ginger are used as HMs, therefore the identification and confirmation of herbal use are very necessary. In addition, the adulteration practice, mainly motivated to gain economical profits, may occur by substituting the high price of HMs with lower-priced ones or by addition of certain chemical constituents known as Bahan Kimia Obat (chemical drug ingredients) in Indonesia. Some analytical methods based on spectroscopic and chromatographic methods are developed for the authenticity and confirmation of the HMs used. Some approaches are explored during HMs authentication including single-component analysis, fingerprinting profiles, and metabolomics studies. The absence of reference standards for certain chemical markers has led to exploring the fingerprinting approach as a tool for the authentication of HMs. During fingerprinting-based spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, the data obtained were big, therefore the use of chemometrics is a must. This review highlights the application of fingerprinting profiles using variables of spectral and chromatogram data for authentication in HMs. Indeed, some chemometrics techniques, mainly pattern recognition either unsupervised or supervised, were applied for this purpose.

Moderating Effect of Country of Residence in Predicting Adherence to Treatment Among Black Adults Diagnosed with Hypertension

Background: Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) is the major global risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Black individuals have worse cardiovascular health outcomes than their racial counterparts. High incidences of HTN-related strokes, heart failure, and chronic kidney diseases are prevalent in Black communities. Long-term adherence to HTN treatment is efficacious in hypertension control but challenged by psychosocial factors and the asymptomatic nature of HTN. Purpose: This research aims to assess if the country of residence moderates the relationship between adherence and each of its potential predictors in Black adults with HTN residing in the United States and Nigeria. Methodology: This is a secondary data analysis of two studies conducted in New York and southeast Nigeria (n=226). Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistical software Version 27. Descriptive differences in adherence and predicting variables, bivariate analyses for significant predicting variables within each sample, and general linear model analyses with plots for country of residence interaction effects were conducted. Results: The mean ages of the US and Nigerian samples were 57.3 ± 11.9 years (70.9% female) and 46.6 ± 8.9 years (67.1% female), respectively. Significant differences (p <.05) were noted between levels of adherence, age, self–efficacy, illness perception, annual income, and herbal use. Adherence was significantly associated (p < .05) with social support, self-efficacy, provider-patient communication, depressive symptoms, herbal use, employment, and income status within the Nigerian sample. Adherence was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and income status within the US sample. The interaction of country of residence with illness perception, social support, self-efficacy, and provider-patient communication significantly predicted adherence but not for the other variables. Interestingly, there was an opposite relationship between illness perception and adherence between the two samples. Conclusions: The country of residence moderated the relationship between adherence and illness perception, social support, self-efficacy, and provider-patient communication. These findings have clinical, cultural, and policy implications. Understanding the similarities and differences between the US and Nigeria will help clinicians working with Black patients and tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of this population. Future studies and culturally relevant strategies to improve HTN treatment adherence could target factors unique to hypertensive patients’ country of residence.

Authentication of the therapeutic Lamiaceae taxa by using pollen traits observed under scanning electron microscopy.

Herbal medicines are gaining popularity worldwide for human healthcare because of their therapeutic potential. However, adulteration and use of unauthentic raw herbals as substitutes have become a major issue for the local communities and industry for reasons of safety and efficacy. Therefore, the authentication of medicinal plants before their use in herbal medicines is a need of time. Hence, the present study was designed with an aim, to authenticate the therapeutic Lamiaceous taxa by using pollen traits observed under scanning electron microscopy. Pollen micro-morphological studies solve the problem through discrimination and correct identification of the Lamiaceae species from the adulterants. Based on pollen features, Lamiaceae were further divided into two sub-families Lamioideae (tricolpate) and Nepetoideae (hexa-colpate). The pollen grains of Lamioideae were found as small to medium-sized, tricolpate, radially/bilateral symmetrical, sub-spheroidal and oblate shape. Besides, exine patterns bireticulate, reticulate and micro-reticulate, colpus surface sculpturing as psilate, gemmate, scabrate, and verrucate have also been reported. A significant variation was found in the pattern of the reticulum, thickness, and the number of secondary lumina per primary lumen. Similarly, Nepetoideae has a hexa zono-colpate pollen but tri and tetra zono-colpate pollen have also been observed. Hence, this study contributes to the authentication and correct identification of medicinally important Lamiaceae taxa by using scanning electron microscopic techniques and can help to solve the adulteration problem. Highlights Authentication of medicinally important Lamiceous taxa was carried out through scanning electron microscopic techniques. Chemotaxonomic characterization was used for the accurate identification of the therapeutic taxa. The medicinal, palynological and phytochemical significance of Lamiaceae taxa were evaluated. A significant variation was seen in the palynological traits that help in the determination and authentication of the therapeutic Lamiaceous species. Based on the chemotaxonomic characterization, our study can help to solve the adulteration problem for the reason of safety and efficacy.

The Utilization of Selected Threatened or Protected Plant Species; A Case of Limpopo Province, South Africa

In Limpopo Province, harvesting plants for herbal use by traditional health practitioners and ordinary people is an everyday practice. The study investigated the utilization of the following Threatened or Protected Plant-listed species (TOPS): Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. & Zeyh., Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv., Dioscorea sylvatica Eckl., Drimia sanguinea (Schinz) Jessop, Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt and Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov. in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A total of 333 participants were interviewed in this study, across the five districts of the Limpopo Province. Results indicate that traditional health practitioners (THPs) and community members (CMs) use these species exclusively for medicinal purposes. Remedies were often prepared using the underground parts of the plants, which were purchased chiefly from muthi shops–shops trading in both indigenous and exotic plant and animal material used for witchcraft and/or healing. Just over 58.4% of respondents indicated that they purchase material from muthi shops due to their scarcity in local communal lands. In contrast, nearly 40% of participants disclosed that they harvest material from open access land. Only 1.6% of participants sourced these plants from their home gardens. The preference for underground parts and species rarely cultivated in home gardens will lead to extinction of wild populations unless users switch to alternative parts for sustainability.

Herbal Use and Perceptions among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Kuwait

Herbal medicine has become a popular treatment among patients with chronic diseases worldwide. Many patients with diabetes mellitus use herbal medicine without consulting their health professionals.The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, pattern of use, and perceptions in type 2 diabetes patients using herbal medicine. It was conducted between 1st January 2019 and end of June 2019 diabetes clinic in Farwaniya Hospital in Kuwait.In this cross sectional, quantitative, 350 patients were asked to complete questionnaire administered by nurses.The study found that 30.6% of sample used herbal medicine-women more men. Black cumin (habba soda) i.e Nigella Sativa was the most common herb used by diabetic patients The study revealed that 70% of herbal medicine users had poor glycemic control (HbA1c>7%). Diabetic complications were greater in herbal users than in those receiving conventional therapy. The study also showed that 95.3% of herbal medicine users did not inform their treating doctors.Our conclusion was that herbal medicine users needed to increase their awareness and education about the risks and complications of herbal medicine.

Frequency of immunostimulatory herbal supplement use among patients with autoimmune skin disease

To the Editor: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common in the United States.1,2 However, certain herbal supplements, including Spirulina platensis, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Chlorella, Echinacea, and alfalfa, have immunostimulatory effects.1 Patients may consume immunostimulatory CAM for their purported health effects.3,4 However, this poses a potential risk for patients with autoimmune skin disease.1 To characterize the frequency of immunostimulatory CAM use in such patients, we performed a single-center case-control study of herbal supplement use (Spirulina, Echinacea, Chlorella, Aphanizomenon, and alfalfa) among adults with dermatomyositis (DM), cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), and autoimmune blistering disease (AIBD) and healthy controls without autoimmune disease.

Prevalence, Beliefs, and the Practice of the Use of Herbal and Dietary Supplements Among Adults in Saudi Arabia: An Observational Study.

Background and Aim: Alternative treatments for respiratory disorders attempt to prevent or relieve symptoms and enhance functions. Furthermore, substantial evidence shows that several herbal medicines have been clinically effective against respiratory disorders. Thus this study assesses the Saudi students’ use, beliefs, and practices related to herbal and dietary supplements for the possible prevention of respiratory infections. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was designed using Google Forms to collect the data from the healthcare and non-healthcare students currently pursuing their courses at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data was collected over 4 months, from November 2021 to February 2022, using convenience sampling with a 25-item questionnaire. A statistical package for social sciences, SPSS 26, was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 274 participants responded to the study. The mean age of the respondents was 21.9 ± 3.08 (mean (SD)). The prevalence of herbal medicine (HM) was found to be 62.7% (n = 172). Around 48.5% (n = 133) of the respondents occasionally used some form of HM during the period of an illness associated with a respiratory infection. About 66% of the respondents agreed that using HMs prevents or controls respiratory symptoms and strengthens immunity. A majority (75.2%) of the respondents agreed that ginger extract possesses antiviral and immunity-boosting properties, followed by garlic extract (59.5%), cinnamon (39.4%), and lemongrass (38.3%). In addition, between 37% and 45.6% of the respondents agreed that vitamin C and vitamin D intake helps in boosting immunity and reducing the likelihood of developing respiratory infections. The overall mean of the positive beliefs and practice score was 9.6 (range 0-14). The mean positive beliefs and practice scores were significantly higher for males (11.4 ± 3.2) compared to females (8.6 ± 3.6) (P < .001). The numbers were not significantly different regardless of the source of information (9.6 ± 3.5), respondents being in health colleges (8.9 ± 4.1) or non-health colleges (9.8 ± 3.7), them being previously or currently infected (9.7 ± 3.8), the absence of infection (9.7 ± 3.8), or the respondents possessing a history of chronic diseases (10.5 ± 3.9) or not (9.5 ± 3.7) (P > .05). Conclusions: This study found a relatively high prevalence of herbal and dietary supplements’ use, positive beliefs, and practices to strengthen one’s immunity against respiratory symptoms.

Herbal Use and Perceptions among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Kuwait

Herbal medicine has become a popular treatment among patients with chronic diseases worldwide. Many patients with diabetes mellitus use herbal medicine without consulting their health professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, pattern of use, and perceptions in type 2 diabetes patients using herbal medicine. It was conducted between 1st January 2019 and end of June 2019 diabetes clinic in Farwaniya Hospital in Kuwait. In this cross sectional quantitative study, 350 patients were asked to complete questionnaire administered by nurses. The study found that 30.6% of sample used herbal medicine—women more than men. Black cumin (habba soda) i.e. Nigella sativa was the most common herb used by diabetic patients. The study revealed that 70% of herbal medicine users had poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%). Diabetic complications were greater in herbal users than in those receiving conventional therapy. The study also showed that 95.3% of herbal medicine users did not inform their treating doctors. Our conclusion was that herbal medicine users needed to increase their awareness and education about the risks and complications of herbal medicine.

Use of herbal medicines during pregnancy in a group of Bangladeshi women

BackgroundPregnancy-related illnesses are commonly treated by herbal medicines in our country as well as around the world. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to find out how common herbal use is among Bangladeshi pregnant women, what factors influence it, and how it affects pregnancy outcomes. MethodsRandom sampling was done among women who gave birth between July and September 2021 in the maternity ward of an NGO-based clinic and were requested to participate in the face-to-face questionnaire-based survey. Results275 women (71.80%) out of 383 used herbs during their pregnancy. Only 27.42% of women who used herbs informed their doctors, and 91.03% of users reported no side effects. Most users thought that herbs were safer than allopathic medications (71.8%). The ground behind the choosing herb was suggestion from family members or self-medication (34.73% and 31.83%, respectively). Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) (73.10%), lemon (Citrus limon L. Burm. F) (71.27%), black seed (Nigella sativa) (66.55%), mustard oil (Brassica Juncea Mane Kancor) (65.45%), and prune (Prunus domestica) (41.45%) were the most widely utilized herbs. The majority of women used herbs on a daily basis. There were statistically significant differences in several socio-demographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes between herb users and non-users. ConclusionsThe usage of herbs throughout pregnancy is quite prevalent amid Bangladeshi womenfolk, according to this study. Herbs appear to be safe when used often during pregnancy. Furthermore, physicians or medical practitioners have to play a vital role in ensuring the safe usage of herbs among pregnant women.

Trends in Herbal and Dietary Supplement Use Among U. S. Adults with Chronic Liver Disease

Herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) are used by over 50% of Americans, but commonly their use is not reported to healthcare providers. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of HDS use among patients with Chronic Liver Disease (CLD), with a focus on those using supplements known to cause hepatotoxicity. We accessed 61,951 individuals polled in the NHANES database between 2001-2011, which represented a population size of 1,763,482,931. 573 respondents reported a history of CLD (population size of 19,998,331.655). Of those 573 respondents, 41 respondents (population size 1,399,884) endorsed using HDS that are associated with causing hepatotoxicity, which are listed under the NIH complied master list. Our study demonstrates the need for better counseling of patients on the potential risks of these readily available products.

Surrounding Plants as Reliable Immune Boosters

Recently, due to the growth of environmental pollution and the increase in the resistance of microorganisms to artificially create chemical drugs, there has been an urgent need for a radical change in the direction of the medical preparations development, for changing chemicals to naturally produced ones based on herbal natural remedies. Since homeopathy is a branch of medicine that includes not only herbal preparations, but also chemical ingredients, our newly developed patent—although it belongs to the field of homeopathy—is its offshoot aimed solely at maintaining the body’s strength without harming it, increasing the survival of the body in a polluted environment removing toxins from the body by strengthening adaptive immune mechanisms. Thus, thyme, cumin, oregano, licorice, and other natural resources of the earth, which are the basis of our patent, successfully fight cold and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The article presents a methodology for the development of a new herbal preparation, its dosage, and use as the main ingredient in a treatment course in infectious diseases.

Intestinal epithelial damage due to herbal compounds – an in vitro study

Intestinal epithelial injury from herbal products has rarely been reported, despite the gut being the first point of contact for oral preparations. These products often consist of multiple herbs, thereby potentially exposing consumers to higher levels of reactive phytochemicals than predicted due to pharmacokinetic interactions. The phytochemical coumarin, found in many herbal products, may be taken in combination with herbal medicines containing astragalosides and atractylenolides, purported cytochrome P450 (CYP) modulators. As herbal use increases, the need to predict interactions in multiple at-risk organ systems is becoming critical. Hence, to determine whether certain herbal preparations containing coumarin may cause damage to the intestinal epithelium, Caco2 cells were exposed to common phytochemicals. Coumarin, astragaloside IV (AST-IV) or atractylenolide I (ATR-I) solutions were exposed to Caco2 cultures in increasing concentrations, individually or combined. Coumarin produced a significant concentration-dependant fall in cell viability that was potentiated when CYP enzymes were induced with rifampicin and incubated with CYP3A4 inhibitor econazole, suggesting a role for other CYP enzymes generating toxic metabolites. ATR-I alone produced no toxicity in uninduced cells but showed significant toxicity in rifampicin-induced cells. ATR-I had no effect on coumarin-induced toxicity. AST-IV was nontoxic alone but produced significant toxicity when combined with nontoxic concentrations of coumarin. The combination of coumarin, ATR-I and AST-IV was significantly toxic, but no synergistic interaction was seen. This investigation was conducted to determine the likelihood for intestinal-based interactions, with the results demonstrating coumarin is potentially toxic to intestinal epithelium, and combinations with other phytochemicals can potentiate this toxicity.

Is the Association between Herbal Use and Blood-Pressure Control Mediated by Medication Adherence? A Cross-Sectional Study in Primary Care.

Herbs have been used worldwide for many health conditions as an alternative treatment, including hypertension. Their use might affect the use of conventional medications, as well as blood-pressure control. This study aims to determine whether the potential associations between herb use and high blood pressure in hypertensive patients was mediated by medication adherence. A cross-sectional study was conducted using questionnaires and available medical databases at a primary care clinic of a tertiary hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The data were collected from 450 patients with essential hypertension. Drug adherence was assessed by the Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale. The history of herbs used in the past three months was obtained. The goal of controlled blood pressure was defined in accordance with the Thai guidelines on the treatment of hypertension. Of the total 450 patients, 42% had high adherence. Nearly 18% reported herb use in the past three months. High medication adherence was strongly associated with blood-pressure control when adjusted for age, gender, education, the presence of comorbidities, and herb use (aOR 26.73; 95% CI 8.58–83.23; p < 0.001). The association between herb use and blood-pressure control did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.143). However, the adjusted odds ratio of the association between herb use and blood-pressure control was diluted from 0.67 to 0.83 when adding the factor of medication adherence to the model. In conclusion, herb use was associated with poor medication adherence, which was in turn associated with poor blood-pressure control. Assessing this information contributes to appropriate exploration and counseling.

A Preliminary Report on Herbal Medicine Use Among Patients Hospitalized at Two-Large COVID-19 Treatment Centers in Uganda.

IntroductionHerbal medication use among patients with COVID-19 imposes a significant risk of drug-herbal interactions and adverse events. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 attending two large COVID-19 Treatment Units (CTU) in Uganda.MethodsA hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted recruiting patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at the Mulago National Referral Hospital and Namboole Stadium CTUs. Chi-square or Fishers’ exact test for categorical and Mann–Whitney U-test for numerical were used to determine the association between dependent and independent variables.ResultsThe study was terminated early because of significant reduction in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and the closure of Namboole CTU. Of the anticipated 422 participants, we recruited 108 (25.6%). Of this, 58 (53.7%) were female, with a median age of 38 (range: 20–75) years. Forty-nine (45.4%) had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Fifty-eight (57.3%) of the participants had ever used herbal medicine and the majority had used them in the past 12 months (71.9%, n = 41) either before the diagnosis of COVID-19 (85.4%, n = 35) or after (36.6%, n = 15). Being vaccinated for COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4–6.8, p = 0.005) and having attained tertiary level of education (aOR: 6.2, 95% CI: 1.7–23.1, p = 0.006), as well as the accessibility to herbalists (aOR: 31.2, 95% CI: 3.7–263.2, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with herbal medication use. The majority of participants reported some improvement after using herbal medicine (80.7%, n = 46) and their doctors or nurses asked almost half of the participants about herbal medicine use (49.5%, n = 53).ConclusionThe use of herbal medicines to treat or prevent COVID-19 among hospitalized patients is a widespread practice in Uganda amidst unpublished evidence of their safety and efficacy.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Attitudes of Gynecologic Patients: Experience in a Tertiary Clinic.

To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding complementary and alternative medicine methods of patients who were admitted to gynecology outpatient clinics. In the present survey, a questionnaire on complementary and alternative medicine practices was applied on 1,000 women (ages between 18 and 83 years old) who were admitted to the gynecology outpatient clinic of a tertiary maternity hospital. Demographic features and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about these methods were inquired in face-to-face interviews. While 80.7% of the total participants thought that complementary and alternative medicine was beneficial, only 37.5% of them had used these methods previously. The rate of prior knowledge on this subject was of 59.7% and the source of information was physicians for 8.5% of the patients. However, 72.4% of all participants wanted to obtain information on these methods and 93.7% wanted to be informed by physicians. In the decision tree model, having knowledge about complementary and alternative medicine was the most effective factor determining its use (p < 0.001). Phytotherapy was found to be the most used method, with 91.4%. The most preferred plant was onion (18.9%), and the most common reasons for herbal use were stress (15.4%) and fatigue (15.2%). More than one-third of the patients who applied to the gynecology outpatient clinics used one of the complementary and alternative medicine methods at least once. As gynecologists and obstetricians, we need to be more knowledgeable about these methods to provide correct guidance to our patients for accessing accurate and effective information.