Prevalence of botanicals used as medicine in the United States: A systematic review

Introduction/Background: Botanicals have been used for millennia across the globe to treat health-related conditions. The usage of botanicals - a component of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - for both treating and preventing illness, has been increasing in the United States. However, few studies have systematically reviewed the prevalence of botanical usage among the general US population. Aims/Objectives: The purpose of this research is to greater understand the usage of botanicals by the general US population, so that researchers may be able to more accurately identify associated health benefits and risks, as well as tailor effective interventions for populations, since it has been proposed that the use of CAM therapies is best understood as a component of health self-management. Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review was conducted in order to assess the prevalence of botanical usage in peer-reviewed public health literature from 2005-2012 among US populations with large sample sizes (N >499). Findings/Results: There was a growing prevalence of botanical usage between 2002 and 2007. Public health risks were identified, as were gaps, creating the need for further and more specific research on botanical using in the United States. Conclusion/Summary/Discussion: Because of the increasing number of botanical users in the US, in addition to the continued global reliance on botanicals, this research has directly applicability to both the 2013 APHA conference theme and to the field of public health.