[Use of complementary and herbal medicine in the general population and among pregnant women].

Studies have reported a widespread use of herbal medicine in the general population (6-48%) and among pregnant women (4-69%) with great geographic and socio-economic variations in the extent of utilization and compounds used. The use of herbal medicine in Denmark remains relatively undescribed. Equivalent to conventional drugs, herbal medicine has side effects, interactions and contraindications. Thus, especially pregnant women should be careful as the safety profile remains unclear. Many patients do not report their use of herbal medicine to healthcare practitioners if they are not asked directly.