Abstract
This study examined the prevalence of use of herbs as a form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) by an outpatient veterans administration population and primary care provider (PCP) awareness of use. Male veterans (n = 302), both healthy and with comorbidities, were randomly selected to complete a questionnaire collecting demographic, health, and herbal supplement use information. Twenty-four percent of the veterans reported taking herbal therapies within the past 3 years. Ginseng (12%), ginkgo (9%), saw palmetto (9%), and echinacea (7%) were used most frequently. Herbal CAM users tended to be younger (P = .047) and more educated (P = .008) than nonusers, and were significantly more likely to report liver disease (P = .004), psychological disorders (P = .005), and antidepressant use (P = .001). Of those who used herbs, 89% reported no inquiry from their PCP about usage, and 70% of the veterans did not inform their PCP about usage. Given the low PCP awareness of herbal therapy use, the population may be at increased risk for herb-drug interactions. In this population, PCPs should increase their awareness and become more informed about the veterans' desires to incorporate alternative therapies into traditional medicine.