Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8510

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Publication type: Journal Article

Clement YN, Morton-Gittens J, Basdeo L, Blades A, Francis MJ, Gomes N, Janjua M, Singh A.
Perceived efficacy of herbal remedies by users accessing primary healthcare in Trinidad.
BMC Complement Altern Med 2007 Feb 7; 7:(1):4
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6882-7-4.pdf

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The unabated global trend in the use of herbal remedies requires further investigation to determine the probable underlying factors driving this burgeoning phenomenon. We propose that the users perception of favourable efficacy is a critical factor and assessed the perceived efficacy of herbal remedies by users accessing primary health facilities throughout Trinidad. Additionally, we determined how users rated herbal remedies compared to conventional allopathic medicines as being less, equally or more efficacious.

METHODS: – A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken at 16 randomly selected primary healthcare facilities throughout Trinidad during June-August 2005. A de novo, pilot-tested questionnaire was interviewer-administered to confirmed herbal users (previous or current). c2 tests were performed to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS: – 265 herbal users entered the study and cited over 100 herbs for the promotion of health/wellness and the management of specific health concerns. Garlic was the most popular herb and was used by 48.3% of the sample and used in the common cold, cough, fever, as blood cleansers and carminatives. It was also used for hypertension in 20% of the sample. 230 users (86.8%) indicated that herbs were efficacious and perceived that this modality had equal or greater efficacy than conventional allopathic medicines for specific ailments and diseases. Gender, age, family income and level of formal education did not influence patients perception; however, ethnicity did (p=0.029). Concomitant use of herbs and allopathic medicines was relatively high at 30%; most herb-drug users did so without informing their attending primary healthcare physician.

CONCLUSIONS: – Most users perceived that herbs were efficacious, and in some instances, more efficacious than conventional medicines. We suggest that this may be one of the major contributing factors fuelling the increasing use of this healthcare modality worldwide. The growing body of evidence-based research in the form of randomized controlled clinical trials should direct the proper use of herbs and should continue to receive support to validate (or otherwise) efficacy and determine safety. Unfortunately, most indigenous Caribbean herbs are not well investigated and this points to the urgent need for biomedical investigations to assess safety profile and efficacy of popular medicinal herbs.

Notes:

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