Herbal Reference Sources for Health Care Professionals Tanya Feddern University of South Florida

Goal To review and recommend scientific herbal resources that will satisfy the information needs of the health care professional.

Herbal Supplement Market $3.2 billion a year 1 (1997); $14.7 billion two years later 2 ; $62 billion worldwide 3 in 2000 Convenience Packaging “Good old days”/return to simplicity Beneficial/Harmful

Information Needs of the Health Professional Time issues Text Layout Medical features Contraindications Dosage Duration Allergies

Information Needs of the Health Professional (cont.) Side effects Interactions (herb, drug, food, lab test, disease) Overdose symptoms Regulatory status

The Hunt Librarian listservs Electronic resources Internet search Professionals Library holdings Literature

Criteria Peer-reviewed Clinical trials Update schedule Hidden agenda?

Results 12 books 3 journals 7 reference electronic resources; ;; 9 research electronic resources Additional confounding factor

Conclusion Not comprehensive Journals Resources in a variety of formats New contacts References: India begins to set traditional medicine house in order. (2000, July 13). Reuters. Johnson, B. A. (1997). One-Third of nation’s adults use herbal remedies: Market estimated at 3.2 billion. HerbalGram, 40, 49. Rafia, N. (2000). Herbs and supplements--What you need to know before you buy. Money, 29 (4),