Many people use herbal medication of some sort, but several commonly used herbs have been shown to interact with prescribed medication. Studies show that many patients either do not realise that the herbs could interact (and anyway do not class the herbs as medicines) or do not want to tell their practitioner that they are using them. With many more nurse prescribers taking control of management of patients with longterm conditions such as diabetes and ischaemic heart disease, it is vital that we consider that the patient may be taking non-prescribed medication including herbs and supplements.
