Complementary and Alternative Medications: A Growing Phenomenon

The link between natural herbs and medications, and formally approved medications is historically undeniable. For example, the foxglove plant was used for centuries to treat cardiac conditions before it was processed and served as the basis for prescription digitoxin medications. During the US Civil War, the bark of weeping willow trees was used as a pain reliever before science identified it contained acetylsalicylic acid, more commonly known as aspirin. Currently, over 40 billion dollars of noninsurance reimbursed dollars are spent on complementary or alternative medications (CAMs) in the United States annually.

Source: Nursing Clinics of North America - December 28, 2020 Category: Nursing Authors: Stephen D. Krau Tags: Preface Source Type: research