NUR 641E Week 2 Discussion Question 2
Many people are using herbal medications and dietary supplements for the prevention and treatment of medical problems. Review two current research articles about two of these products. Based on the findings, what would be the implications for you as a nurse? What additional research needs to be done in this area? Cite the two references to support your answer.
Herbal Supplements
A review article published in the Journal of Family Practice found that many patients who use herbal remedies have little knowledge about them (Ravindran & Hargreaves 2008). This lack of knowledge may be an obstacle to their health care providers’ ability to provide appropriate guidance about their use (Ravindran & Hargreaves 2008). It is important for nurses to develop strategies that can help patients make informed choices regarding herbal supplements so that they can participate fully in their own health care (Chen et al. 2017).
I think that it is important to review both current research articles about two of these products. Based on the findings, what would be the implications for you as a nurse? What additional research needs to be done in this area? Cite two references to support your answer.
1) Herbal medications and dietary supplements are being used by many people for prevention and treatment of medical problems. Current research shows that some herbs can be helpful in treating medical conditions. However, there are also side effects from taking these products that should be considered when taking them.
2) Some herbs may cause harmful side effects when taken in large doses (such as blood pressure issues). Another problem is that some herbs may interact with other medications or supplements, causing dangerous interactions and side effects. There needs to be more research done about how these interactions occur so that nurses can make informed decisions about which herbal products they should use when treating patients with certain illnesses or conditions.
As a nurse, I believe that it is important for me to be as informed as possible about herbal products. It is also important for me to know how these products work and whether or not they are safe for my patients.
The first article I reviewed was about the use of herbal medications in children’s health care. The article focused on how to treat common childhood illnesses with herbal medicine, including colds and flu, earaches, and headaches.
The second article I reviewed was about the use of dietary supplements in nursing practice. The article focused on the definition of a dietary supplement and what they do, how they work, and whether or not they are safe for patients to take.
The implications for me as a nurse would be that now that we know more about what these products can do, we will have more options when treating our patients with them. For example: if there is an herb that helps prevent certain diseases but also has side effects (like drowsiness), then we might want to try using some other herbs instead of just one herb to see if it works better without causing any side effects like drowsiness.
I found two articles that discussed herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
The first article was about the effects of herbal remedies on the body, and it reviewed several studies relating to their safety. One study in particular looked at the effects of ginger on stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. The authors found that adults who consumed ginger had less stomach pain than those who did not, but they also found that those who consumed ginger had more nausea and vomiting than those who did not. They concluded that there is some benefit to using ginger for stomach pain, but it’s not a cure-all.
The second article was about the role of herbs in treating cancer patients. They looked at several studies that showed a reduction in cancerous cells and an increase in immune system activity among patients treated with herbal supplements like echinacea or garlic oil.
They concluded that while these studies don’t prove that herbs have any effect on cancer, they do suggest an increase in immune function among people who use them as part of their treatment plan.
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