Clinic Naturae, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SG, United Kingdom.
Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge NE45 5QZ, United Kingdom.
Complement Ther Med. 2019 Jun;44:83-90. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.02.007. Epub 2019 Feb 16.
Increasing sales of medicinal plants as supplements or health foods continue to indicate widespread self-medication. We conducted a survey on users' views on obtaining information on herbal medicines and their experiences and opinions about their use. Responses over one-year period (01.08.2015-31.07.2016) were analysed. 157 participants took part (87% aged 45-64y, and 13% >65y). 80% participants used medicinal plants for multiple health benefits [i.e. health protection (74%), disease prevention (38%) and treatment (49%]). 95% believed in the medicinal powers of plants. Information regarding use of medicinal plants was predominantly based on books (57%), the internet (53%), friends, colleagues or neighbours (51%) and health practitioners (42%). 51% of participants felt herbs were safe (51%) with less side effects (55%) than pharmaceutical medicines. 24% of medicinal plant users informed their medical doctor, with majority of informed medical professional (47%) accepting the use of medicinal plants. This pilot survey provides new and valuable information for use in designing future more comprehensive surveys to provide essential information about the use of herbal medicines by the general population and health care providers' attitudes in the UK.
随着作为补充剂或健康食品的药用植物销量不断增加，这表明自我药疗现象普遍存在。我们就草药信息获取以及使用经验和看法方面的问题，对用户进行了调查。对为期一年（2015 年 8 月 1 日至 2016 年 7 月 31 日）的答复进行了分析。共有 157 名参与者（87%的年龄在 45-64 岁之间，13%的年龄大于 65 岁）。80%的参与者出于多种健康益处而使用药用植物[即健康保护（74%）、疾病预防（38%）和治疗（49%）]。95%的参与者相信植物的药用功效。药用植物使用信息主要来源于书籍（57%）、互联网（53%）、朋友、同事或邻居（51%）和医疗保健从业者（42%）。51%的参与者认为草药安全（51%），副作用小于（55%）药物。24%的药用植物使用者会告知他们的医生，大多数告知的医疗专业人员（47%）接受使用药用植物。这项试点调查为未来设计更全面的调查提供了新的有价值信息，可借此了解英国民众和医疗保健提供者对草药使用的态度。
