Zink T, Chaffin J
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, USA.
Am Fam Physician. 1998 Oct 1;58(5):1133-40.
Patients who self-medicate with herbs for preventive and therapeutic purposes may assume that these products are safe because they are "natural," but some products cause adverse effects or have the potential to interact with prescription medications. The United States lacks a regulatory system for herbal products. Although only limited research on herbs has been published, St John's wort shows promise as a treatment for depression. Ginkgo biloba extract is possibly effective for cerebrovascular insufficiency and dementia. Feverfew is used extensively in Canada for migraine prophylaxis but needs more rigorous study. Ephedrine has been regulated by many states because its misuse has been associated with several deaths. Echinacea is being tried as an agent for immune stimulation, and garlic is under study for cholesterol-lowering properties, but both require more study. Physicians should educate themselves and their patients about the efficacy and adverse interactions of herbal agents and the limitations of our present knowledge of them.
为预防和治疗目的而自行服用草药的患者可能认为这些产品是安全的，因为它们是“天然的”，但有些产品会产生不良反应，或有可能与处方药发生相互作用。美国缺乏针对草药产品的监管体系。虽然关于草药的研究发表得很少，但圣约翰草显示出治疗抑郁症的前景。银杏叶提取物可能对脑血管功能不全和痴呆有效。小白菊在加拿大被广泛用于预防偏头痛，但需要更严格的研究。麻黄碱已受到许多州的管制，因为其滥用与多起死亡事件有关。紫锥菊正被尝试用作免疫刺激剂，大蒜正在接受降胆固醇特性的研究，但两者都需要更多研究。医生应该让自己和患者了解草药制剂的功效和不良相互作用以及我们目前对它们的认识的局限性。
