Question

Integrative or complementary modalities such as herbs have a limited evidence base to support their use, yet they are used by many people and by some cultures in particular. As the RN you identify a patent’s use of an herb therapy not ordered by the health care provider.

Discuss factors that the RN would consider to determine if the herbs are helpful or harmful for this patient.

Identify an appropriate nursing intervention when the herb is considered neither helpful nor harmful.

Identify another appropriate nursing intervention when the herb is considered harmful.

Answer 1

Answer: Although it has been not that much into notice, the herbal medicine do have positive action on the diseases. But the duration of the treatment is long and the herbal medicines take much time to heal the disease or the injury.

As an RN, intervention about the herbal medicines should be done as what the patient is taking and for which reason patient inclined towards the herbal medicines. The first query and the information should be collected as the diseases the patient is suffering from and te kind of herbal treatment is being given. Herbal medicine is not bad, but for the treatment one should have a deep knowledge about it. It has less side effects but still it can deteriorate the condition of the patients.

The intervention should include the duration of the time that the patient is taking the herbal medicine and how much the improvement the patient notices after taking the herbal medicine. And also intervene about the other sign and symptoms the patient notices while taking this herbal treatment.

If we take the example of belladona, a herbal remedies which is toxic if taken more than a normal dose, it can be fatal too. But if given within a specific range it can treat the disease. So it is very important for the patient to know about the proper uses and harmful effects of the particular medicine.