According to a review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, physicians should communicate with patients on the risks of using unproven herbal medications for cardiovascular diseases.
While there’s little evidence that herbal medications are safe or effective to treat cardiovascular conditions, they remain popular among patients with cardiovascular disease, according to
The investigators looked at 42 herbal medications that have been identified as a possible treatment for one or more cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, heart failure, and atherosclerosis.
The team found that there isn’t enough evidence to determine if herbal remedies are causing potential complications. Many patients don’t tell their doctor they are taking herbal medications, probably because they don’t view these as treatments that could cause serious side effects, the study authors said.
