Question

. Describe why the lack of controls on herbal and alternative therapies can impact safe drug therapy. What responsibilities do nurses have related to herbal and alternative therapies?

Answer 1

Herbal and alternative medicines is an attraction to the people due to the fact that they are presented with reduced side effects and adverse events.However, administration of these agents without proper medical supervision can affect the safe course of drug therapy due to the following reasons:

a) The studies regarding the toxicity profiles of the herbal medicines are not extensively done as that of the allopathic medicines.Therefore, though usually considered safe these medicines can also be toxic depending on the intake for the medicines whose systematic studies have not been established.

b) The impact of these medicines are great such that a part of the population may even adopt the self treatment for specific conditions without proper understanding of the disease or the agent used.

c) The reduction of the symptoms following a therapeutic regimen are often thought as the disease or condition under sontrol atleast in some casses of lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes. This increases the tendency to switch from the prescribed regimen to the complimentary system which will adversely affect the patient.

Responsibilities of Nurses to Alternative Therapies:

Nurses, since they are in direct contact with the person and is able to continously communicate with them has the responsibility of impart some directions to the patient regarding the use of these therapies which include:

a)Educating the patient regarding the possible effects of alternate therapies as mentioned above and directing them in such a way to adhere to actual medical regimen and thereby improve the quality of life.

b)The use of possible interactions with drugs administered should be provided to the patient.

c)As a nurse, the self awareness of the effects of the medical condition ,drug regimen and the actions of the alternate therapies should be updated.

d) Focus on the total care of the patient with proper attention and care.