Herbal medicinal products: Requirements on their safe usage

Abstract

As the use of herbal medicinal products is constantly growing, their safety became an important public health issue. In spite of common belief that herbal medicinal products are safe and harmless because they are natural, it is not always so and their usage is not devoid of certain risks. The most common reasons for herbal adverse reactions (ADRs) are: improper use (overdose or prolonged use), interactions with conventional drugs and poor quality of herbal products. In this work were discussed the most important issues on their safe usage. Classification of herbal medicinal products (herbal medicine, traditional herbal medicine) and basic informations on their registration and marketing authorization according to current European and Serbian legislation were also given. Manufacturing of quality herbal medicinal products is highlighted as one of the most important requirements for their safety. Having in mind that most of these products are sold without prescription (OTC) and that they are mostly used in self-medication, the role of health professionals in consulting patients on choosing of herbal medicinal product and its usage was emphasized. The importance of patient's collaboration with health professionals on recognizing and monitoring herbal ADRs and avoiding possible interactions was also pointed out. Examples of the most frequent herbal medicinal products ADRs occurring in course of their recommended and improper use, on their interactions with drugs as well as on their poor quality were given. The importance of involving herbal medicinal products in international pharmacovigilance systems was also explained.