BACKGROUND Cannabis, in herbal form, is widely used as self-medication by patients with diseases such as HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis suffering from symptoms including pain, muscle spasticity, stress and insomnia. Valid clinical studies of herbal cannabis require a product which is acceptable to patients in order to maximize adherence to study protocols. METHODS We conducted a randomized c...

Objective: self-medication is practiced significantly worldwide. No data is available on the current status of self-medication practice in Palestine. The objective of this study is to assess the extent of self-medication practice among a random sample of An-Najah National University students. Methods: this was a cross-sectional, anonymous, questionnaire-based survey that included 1581 students ...

BACKGROUND Traditional medicine (TM) occupies a special place in the management of diseases in Uganda. Not with standing the many people relying on TM, indigenous knowledge (IK) related to TM is getting steadily eroded. To slow down this loss it is necessary to document and conserve as much of the knowledge as possible. This study was conducted to document the IK relevant to traditional medicin...

based on a common belief, herbal medicine with the least possible side effects should be the center of attention in cancer care; however, in many cases they have not been properly studied with reliable clinical trials in human subjects. in this review, it was attempted to identify the available evidence on the use and clinical effects of herbs in cancer care. the research consists of two major ...

UNLABELLED The Joint Commission continues to emphasize the importance of medication reconciliation in all practice settings. Pharmacists and student pharmacists are uniquely trained in this aspect of patient care, and can assist with keeping accurate and complete medication records through patient interview in the outpatient setting. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to quantify and d...

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe and debilitating neuropsychiatric condition that is characterized by recurrent and intrusive thought that the affected individual feels compelled to perform in order to reduce the distress. It affects between 1 to 3% of the general population around the world and has some gender-related features. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, t...

AIM To determine the impact of health insurance and the government's Benefit Service Scheme, a system that provides free drugs to treat mostly chronic illnesses to persons aged 16 to 65 years, on the use of herbal remedies by Christian churchgoers in Barbados. METHODS The eleven parishes of Barbados were sampled over a six-week period using a survey instrument developed and tested over a four...

Herbal agents are increasingly used for medicinal purposes, but there is a lack of knowledge about the content of these agents. Indiscriminate use of herbal agents may cause severe side effects and also death. We report a newborn who developed convulsions and respiratory arrest after oral intake of an opium poppy preparation containing papaverine for its antitussive effect. The infant experienc...

Research has been conducted in various fields in an attempt to develop new therapeutic agents for incurable neurodegenerative diseases. Gastrodia elata Blume (GE), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used in neurological disorders as an anticonvulsant, analgesic, and sedative medication. Several neurodegenerative models are characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, wh...

A female at 28 weeks gestation was referred to pediatric cardiology for a fetal arrhythmia. The echocardiogram revealed premature constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Her work up was unremarkable except for her use of an herbal supplement, grape seed extract, which is advertised as a potent anti-inflammatory medication, and has biochemical properties similar to other medications that ha...