Investigation into the incidence of adverse events associated with the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2023
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Investigation into the incidence of adverse events associated with the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM)
Background: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a popular choice of health care globally as well as within Australia. Consumers come from various socio-economic groups and choose to either self-medicate or seek treatment from professional practitioners for acute, serious and chronic health conditions. Reasons given for use include cultural preferences, an inclination to ingest traditional medicines which are believed to be effective, low cost, harmless, gentler, safer and with minimal risk because ingredients come from natural sources. However, the consumption of herbs can occasionally cause untoward symptoms, which may not be trivial.
Objectives: To identify the current knowledge concerning the risks, nature, frequency and severity of CHM adverse events (AEs).
Methods: Four studies were undertaken. The first concerned collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data from the available literature; the second was a CHM pharmacovigilance clinic patient audit within a day-to-day clinical practice; the third was a review of the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) AE case reports; and the fourth was three focus groups with registered Chinese Medicine (CM) practitioners on their understanding of the risks, nature, frequency and severity of AEs. Unfortunately, the pharmacovigilance audit was discontinued due to several factors including the government health restrictions placed on clinics during the COVID 19 pandemic and then closure of the clinic due to the termination of the CM training programs at UTS.
Results: These investigations identified insight into the character of CHM AEs. An assessment of the incomplete pharmacovigilance clinic patient audit presented participant demographics, initial outcomes from the four (4) questionnaires, and details of four (4) reported AEs. The 135 TGA case reports provided consumer demographics, nature, frequency, severity of the event, and reporter category. Emerging themes from the focus groups provided professional insight into the characteristics of AEs in day-to-day practice. Literature and the TGA reports provided evidence of the danger of consumers self-diagnosing, self-prescribing and purchasing products across the counter and online without prior professional consultation/s.
Discussion: Shortcomings to public health and safety included a lack of government interagency, professional and industry networking as to the risks associated with CHM. Suggestions are presented as to the process which would facilitate registered CHM practitioners' access to currently restricted herbs.
Conclusions: Recommendations and future strategies to reduce AEs require an improved understanding of CHM with improved networking, and increase in CM education and research.
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