Use and Safety Perceptions Regarding Herbal Supplements: A Study of Older Persons in Southeast Idaho

Herbal supplements (HS) are used by older persons and are often perceived as safe, although there is limited research that examines why this perception exists. A questionnaire was developed and pilot tested to investigate the use and perceived safety of HS among a convenience sample of 112 adults aged 60 to 92 in southeast Idaho. Fifty-five percent of the participants (n = 62) reported using HS in the past. Ninety-five percent (n = 59) of those using HS and 75% (n = 37) of nonusers reported they believed most or some HS were safe. Perception of herbal supplement safety was greatly influenced by family and friends, and HS users had a greater perception of safety than nonusers (p ≤ .001). The top reasons for perceived safety given by HS users were that HS: (1 Tindle HA , Davis RB , Phillips RS , Eisenberg DM . Trends in use of complementary and alternative medicine by U.S. adults: 1997–2002 . Altern Ther Health Med . 2005 ; 11 ( 1 ): 1 – 42 . [Google Scholar]) can be purchased without a prescription, (2 Eisenberg DM , Davis RB , Ettner SL , Appel S , Wilkey S , Van et al. . Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997 . JAMA . 1998 ; 280 ( 18 ): 1569 – 75 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) can be purchased in many locations, and (3 Barnes PM , Powell-Griner E , McFann K , Nahin RL . Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States, 2002 . Advance Data: Vital Health Stat . 27 May 2004 ; 343 : 1 – 19 .[PubMed] , [Google Scholar]) are natural.