Key technical issues of herbal medicines with reference to interaction with other medicines
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World Health Organization
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xi, 70 p.
This WHO technical document examines the key issues associated with interactions between herbal medicines and other medicines in the context of the increasing global use of traditional, complementary and conventional therapies in combination. Developed in response to requests from Member States, the publication aims to support health-care professionals, regulators, researchers, pharmacovigilance centres, manufacturers and consumers by providing information on the nature, mechanisms and implications of herb–drug interactions. It outlines both beneficial and harmful interactions, describes pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic mechanisms, and reviews the role of in vitro and in vivo approaches in their evaluation. The document discusses the challenges of assessing and monitoring herb–drug interactions, including the complexity and variability of herbal products, quality-related factors, patient susceptibility and limitations in available evidence. It also addresses the collection, assessment and dissemination of interaction data through pharmacovigilance systems and clinical reporting. In addition, the publication highlights the importance of education and training for health professionals and consumers, and identifies research priorities to improve understanding, detection, monitoring and management of herb–drug interactions. A compilation of documented interaction reports involving well-established herbal medicines is included to support informed and safe use of herbal and conventional medicines concurrently.
This WHO technical document examines the key issues associated with interactions between herbal medicines and other medicines in the context of the increasing global use of traditional, complementary and conventional therapies in combination. Developed in response to requests from Member States, the publication aims to support health-care professionals, regulators, researchers, pharmacovigilance centres, manufacturers and consumers by providing information on the nature, mechanisms and implications of herb–drug interactions. It outlines both beneficial and harmful interactions, describes pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic mechanisms, and reviews the role of in vitro and in vivo approaches in their evaluation. The document discusses the challenges of assessing and monitoring herb–drug interactions, including the complexity and variability of herbal products, quality-related factors, patient susceptibility and limitations in available evidence. It also addresses the collection, assessment and dissemination of interaction data through pharmacovigilance systems and clinical reporting. In addition, the publication highlights the importance of education and training for health professionals and consumers, and identifies research priorities to improve understanding, detection, monitoring and management of herb–drug interactions. A compilation of documented interaction reports involving well-established herbal medicines is included to support informed and safe use of herbal and conventional medicines concurrently.