scholarly journals Exploring Herbal Medicine Use during Palliative Cancer Care: The Integrative Physician as a Facilitator of Pharmacist–Patient–Oncologist Communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 455
Author(s):  
Noah Samuels ◽  
Eran Ben-Arye

Oncology patients frequently use herbal and other forms of complementary medicine, often without the knowledge of oncologists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals responsible for their care. Oncology healthcare professionals may lack the knowledge needed to guide their patients on the safe and effective use of herbal medicinal products, a number of which have potentially harmful effects, which include direct toxicity and negative herb–drug interactions. The current review addresses the prevalence and expectations of oncology patients from herbal medicine, as well as evidence for the beneficial or harmful effects of this practice (potential and actual), especially when the herbal products are used in conjunction with anticancer agents. Models of integrative oncology care are described, in which open and effective communication among oncologists, pharmacists, and integrative physicians on the use of herbal medicine by their patients occurs. This collaboration provides patients with a nonjudgmental and multidisciplinary approach to integrative medicine, echoing their own health-belief models of care during conventional cancer treatments. The role of the integrative physician is to facilitate this process, working with oncologists and pharmacists in the fostering of patient-centered palliative care, while ensuring a safe and effective treatment environment. Case scenario: W. is a 56 year old female artist who was recently diagnosed with localized hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Following lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection, she is scheduled to begin adjuvant chemotherapy with a regimen which will include adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (AC-T protocol). She is worried about developing peripheral neuropathy and its impact on her ability to paint, and she asks about a number of dietary supplements which she heard could prevent this from happening: omega-3, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, and acetyl-l-carnithine. She is concerned, however, that the supplements may negatively interact with her chemotherapy regimen.

Author(s):  
Abdulraof Alqrache ◽  
Mostafa Mostafa ◽  
Omar Ghabrah ◽  
Ziyad Ghabrah ◽  
Nezar Kamal ◽  
...  

Oral dietary supplements (DSs) include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, energy drinks, and herbal products. The use of DSs is increasing and their manufacturers promote their benefits. Studies have validated some of these benefits, but have also indicated that some DSs can have adverse effects, especially if used without the appropriate supervision. Little information on DS use among Saudis is available. This study assessed the use of dietary supplements among male and female university students with the goal of educating the community about DSs and the dangers associated with their misuse. Online and paper validated questionnaires were administered to King Abdulaziz University (KAU) students between September 2019 and January 2020. The responses were collected and analyzed statistically. Of the 954 KAU students who completed the survey, one-third used DSs (42.9% women vs 25.7% men). Of these, 51.7% believed that DSs are essential for health, 41.7% classified them as both food and drugs, 67.2% were aware that DSs could not replace a healthy diet, and 25.8% were aware of their potentially harmful effects. Multivitamins and minerals were the most used DSs. DS awareness among KAU students is limited. Additional health education is necessary to assist students in their selection of the most suitable DSs.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 112 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 240-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan D. Woolf

More parents are considering the use of herbal remedies to maintain their children’s good health and to treat their illnesses. They look to pediatricians and other primary care clinicians for advice concerning the safety and efficacy of herbal products for children. This article reviews principles for the clinician to keep in mind while investigating the literature on herbal medicine and addressing the use of herbal medicines with parents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1SP) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Ilham Abu ◽  
Muhammad Sultan ◽  
Emil Riza Putra

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a broad impact on all sectors of life in Indonesia, including the economic sector. Not a few business sectors are experiencing losses and even bankruptcy. Therefore, business actors must be able to implement and develop certain strategies in order to survive and gain profits both in the midst of the pandemic storm and after the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aims to obtain information about the strategies of Herbal and Herbal Medicine business players in Sehat Basamo in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study uses a qualitative design with a case study approach. Research informants are sellers of herbs and herbal medicine Sehat Basamo as many as 4 people who were selected by purposive sampling. In addition, 4 informants were selected who are loyal customers at the Sehat Basamo outlet. The research was carried out in March-April 2021 at four locations of Sehat Basamo outlets in Samarinda City. The data and information obtained were then analyzed qualitatively. The results of the study obtained information that all Healthy Basamo herbal and herbal outlets and customers who visited Sehat Basamo outlets complied with the Covid-19 health protocol according to the government's appeal in controlling the spread of the Covid-19 rate. In addition to complying with health protocols, the Herbal and herbal medicine business of Sehat Basamo has also been proven to be able to survive in the midst of a pandemic and even continue to benefit from the sales of its products. The success of the owner of the Healthy Basamo herbal and herbal outlet in maintaining business continuity and still making profits in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic by implementing a strategy that is consistent attitude in product presentation, not increasing product prices, friendliness and courtesy of sellers and ensuring the availability of product supply. Sales of herbal and herbal products from Sehat Basamo are carried out face-to-face with buyers and the financial accounting management is still manual. Therefore, sellers of Herbal and Jamu Sehat Basamo can take advantage of currently available technology and information both to increase product sales results and in managing digital-based business financial accounting (digital accounting) which is available in various application software.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Teguh Pradana ◽  
Moch. Zul Ilmi ◽  
Teguh Arifianto

Herbal medicine is a medicine from natural ingredients whose properties have not been scientifically proven, in other words, it has not been subjected to clinical or clinical trials, but its properties are trusted by people based on experience. And at this time many herbal products are marketed in general, and not a few people are confused to choose the right herbal medicine according to their circumstances, so people have to consult or ask before choosing, and make the store experience a long queue on customers. Therefore an expert system is needed for herbal medicine so that people can choose the right herbal medicine according to their circumstances or conditions, and this system can reduce the queue at the herbal medicine shop customers. Expert system built in this study uses the forward chaining method. Case study for the system that is "Pasuruan herbal shop fan" which contained 70 types of herbal medicine, the results of tests conducted by this system are in accordance with the diagnosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 4439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurunathan ◽  
Jeyaraj ◽  
Kang ◽  
Kim

The extensive usage of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as medical products such as antimicrobial and anticancer agents has raised concerns about their harmful effects on human beings. AgNPs can potentially induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in cells. However, humanin (HN) is a small secreted peptide that has cytoprotective and neuroprotective cellular effects. The aim of this study was to assess the harmful effects of AgNPs on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and also to investigate the protective effect of HN from AgNPs-induced cell death, mitochondrial dysfunctions, DNA damage, and apoptosis. AgNPs were prepared with an average size of 18 nm diameter to study their interaction with SH-SY5Y cells. AgNPs caused a dose-dependent decrease of cell viability and proliferation, induced loss of plasma-membrane integrity, oxidative stress, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and loss of ATP content, amongst other effects. Pretreatment or co-treatment of HN with AgNPs protected cells from several of these AgNPs induced adverse effects. Thus, this study demonstrated for the first time that HN protected neuroblastoma cells against AgNPs-induced neurotoxicity. The mechanisms of the HN-mediated protective effect on neuroblastoma cells may provide further insights for the development of novel therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases.


Author(s):  
N. Al Mahyijari ◽  
A. Badahdah ◽  
F. Khamis

Objectives: The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic is wreaking havoc on healthcare systems and causing serious economic, social, and psychological anguish around the globe. Healthcare workers (HCWs) who diagnose and care for COVID-19 patients have been shown to suffer burnout, stress, and anxiety. Methods: In this study, we collected data from 150 frontline HCWs who had close contact with COVID-19 patients at several health facilities in the Sultanate of Oman. The participants completed an online survey that included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Results: The study found that a substantial number of healthcare professionals experienced relatively high levels of stress and anxiety, as well as suboptimal levels of well-being. Perceived stress and anxiety were significant predictors of HCWs’ well-being. Conclusions: This study adds to the increasing literature indicating harmful effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of HCWs.


PPAR Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris J. Edwards ◽  
Joseph T. O'Flaherty

Omega-3 (or n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their metabolites are natural ligands for peroxisome proliferator receptor activator (PPAR)γand, due to the effects of PPARγon cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation, are potential anticancer agents. Dietary intake of omega-3 PUFAs has been associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers in human populations and in animal models. In vitro studies have shown that omega-3 PUFAs inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells through various pathways but one of which involves PPARγactivation. The differential activation of PPARγand PPARγ-regulated genes by specific dietary fatty acids may be central to their distinct roles in cancer. This review summarizes studies relating PUFAs to PPARγand cancer and offers a new paradigm relating an n-3 PUFA through PPARγto the expression of the cell surface proteoglycan, syndecan-1, and to the death of cancer cells.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (08) ◽  
pp. 1711-1735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fu Peng ◽  
Xiaofang Xie ◽  
Cheng Peng

MicroRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules, have gained a reputation of the most substantial regulators in gene network with the ability to down-regulate their targets. Accumulating evidence shifted insight toward microRNAs regulation as the key element of cancer initiation, development, and aggression. Recent studies have attached the importance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to the treatment of various cancers, and the functional natural compounds have been considered as novel anticancer agents to directly inhibit tumor progression. In more recent decades, a wide range of biologically active components of TCM has gained increasing attention to their applications in the modulation of microRNAs. This review is on the purpose of demonstrating the significance of TCM bioactive ingredients in microRNAs regulation for cancer treatment according to the reports mainly in the recent six years, providing the evidence of efficient Chinese herbal medicine-based therapy and effective pro-diagnosis focusing on microRNAs expression of cancer patients.


AMBIO ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 865-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie M. Colombo ◽  
Timothy F. M. Rodgers ◽  
Miriam L. Diamond ◽  
Richard P. Bazinet ◽  
Michael T. Arts

Abstract Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential, omega-3, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that is a key component of cell membranes and plays a vital role in vertebrate brain function. The capacity to synthesize DHA is limited in mammals, despite its critical role in neurological development and health. For humans, DHA is most commonly obtained by eating fish. Global warming is predicted to reduce the de novo synthesis of DHA by algae, at the base of aquatic food chains, and which is expected to reduce DHA transferred to fish. We estimated the global quantity of DHA (total and per capita) currently available from commercial (wild caught and aquaculture) and recreational fisheries. The potential decrease in the amount of DHA available from fish for human consumption was modeled using the predicted effect of established global warming scenarios on algal DHA production and ensuing transfer to fish. We conclude that an increase in water temperature could result, depending on the climate scenario and location, in a ~ 10 to 58% loss of globally available DHA by 2100, potentially limiting the availability of this critical nutrient to humans. Inland waters show the greatest potential for climate-warming-induced decreases in DHA available for human consumption. The projected decrease in DHA availability as a result of global warming would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations (e.g., fetuses, infants), especially in inland Africa (due to low reported per capita DHA availability). We estimated, in the worst-case scenario, that DHA availability could decline to levels where 96% of the global population may not have access to sufficient DHA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Yang Xin Zi Xu ◽  
Shengyan Xi ◽  
Xiaoyan Qian

Gestational diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder during pregnancy with health consequences for both lives during and after pregnancy. Studies found that many pregnant women turn to complementary and alternative medicine for health maintenance or symptom relief, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture from traditional Chinese medicine. With the growing popularity of traditional Chinese medicine, we conducted a systemic search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases on research studies that investigated traditional Chinese medicine during pregnancy. The resultant hits were further searched in relation to all diabetes mellitus. In total, we found three major herbal medicine/herbal products that were associated with glycemic control in gestational diabetes, including Zuo Gui Wan, red raspberry leaves, and Orthosiphon stamineus. We further reviewed them and their relatives in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus and found more evidence of metabolic benefits. None of the herbal medicine and products examined reported toxicity in the experimental models. Overall, treatments of gestational diabetes by western or alternative interventions are grossly understudied. It is critical to have a standardized protocol when evaluating efficacy of herbal medicine and produce quality results for women and their health-care providers to make informed treatment decisions.


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