Lithium, which is a commonly prescribed psychiatric medication, elevates the
therapeutic effect of Lithium and can result in a toxic level.
Another hazard is the route in which herbal therapy is administered. For
example, comfrey is used as an ointment to relieve swelling that is associated
with abrasions and sprains. However, internal use can cause liver damage. Some
comfrey therapies are designed for internal use. One such use is treating a cough
using comfrey as an expectorant.
The herbal dietary supplement ephedra, commonly known as ma huang, is used
as an energy boost and for losing weight. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are
components of ephedra that have a stimulant and bronchodilation effect. How-
ever, ephedra has an adverse effect of palpitations—which can result in stroke.
Herbal Therapy and
the Nursing Process
Nurses need to include a discussion about the patient’s use of nonconventional
therapeutic agents by name, dosage, frequency, side effects and why the patient is
taking this remedy in the nursing assessment. This assessment should include
information about all prescription and over-the-counter medications taken by
the patient and why the patient is taking these drugs. Herbal medications, over the
counter medications, and prescribed medications can combine to create undesir-
able results and in some cases can have a toxic and dangerous effect on the patient.
After assessing the patient, the nurse considers a nursing diagnosis that is
related to herbal therapies. These are:
- Knowledge deficit. The patient may be unaware of the impact herbal ther-
apies have on the patient’s health. - Altered nutrition. The patient may be unaware of how herbal therapies alter
the patient’s nutritional balance. - Side effects. The patient might be experiencing nausea, diarrhea,
headache, fatigue, and other symptoms that are side effects of herbal
therapies. - Toxicity. The patient might be experiencing a toxic effect as a result of
interactions of herbal therapies with prescribed medications. - Alteration in skin integrity. The patient might have developed a reaction to
the herbal therapy such as a rash.
CHAPTER 8 Herbal Therapy^129