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Herbal medicines are plant-derived materials and preparations consumed for their presumed therapeutic or other health benefits. Some herbal products are problematic in terms of their ingredients, effects and interactions with prescription medications.

This module examines the range of problems that may be encountered with preparations containing herbal materials, in order to determine the nature of the risks they pose to the Australian public, and to make recommendations about their regulation.

Learning Outcomes

1. Be aware of specific effects and problems associated with herbal medicines and harmful interactions of a number of their components with prescription medications
2. Know of the lack of regulations with some ingredients not listed, or their concentrations recorded inaccurately, including illegal ingredients.

Details

Authors: Roger W Byard, Ian Musgrave, Garth Maker, Michael Bunce

Article Type: Narrative Review