Herbal Therapy in Dermatology
Monica K. Bedi, MD;
Philip D. Shenefelt, MD
Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:232-242.
Herbal therapy is becoming increasingly popular among patients and physicians.
Many herbal preparations are marketed to the public for various ailments including
those of the skin. Herbal therapies have been used successfully in treating
dermatologic disorders for thousands of years in Europe and Asia. In Germany,
a regulatory commission oversees herbal preparations and recommended uses.
In Asia, herbal treatments that have been used for centuries are now being
studied scientifically. Currently, the United States does not regulate herbal
products, as they are considered dietary supplements. Therefore, there is
no standardization of active ingredients, purity, or concentration. There
are also no regulations governing which herbs can be marketed for various
ailments. This has made learning about and using these treatments challenging.
Information compiled in a practical fashion may enable more patients to benefit
from these treatments currently used worldwide. We reviewed the herbal medications
that show scientific evidence of clinical efficacy, as well as the more common
herbs shown to be useful in the treatment of dermatologic disorders. The safety
of each herb has been addressed to better enable the physician to know which
herbal therapies they may want to begin to use in practice. Common drug interactions
and side effects of herbal medicines that may be seen in the dermatologic
setting were also studied.
From the Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University
of South Florida, Tampa.
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