More than half of patients attending general practice use complementary therapies, research by a family doctor has found.
Dr John Paul Donohoe, a GP in Limerick, questioned 150 patients attending a rural practice in Co Clare about their use of and attitudes to alternative medicine.
Of the 55 per cent of respondents who used complementary medicine, some 27 per cent were frequent users. The majority of patients who availed of alternative medicine were women aged between 35 and 60 years.
Musculoskeletal problems were the most common reason why people sought treatment with complementary therapies. Some 20 per cent used alternative medicine for depression and stress, while hormonal problems accounted for 15 per cent of usage. Allergies, asthma, sleep problems and headaches were other reasons why patients sought treatment from alternative practitioners.
The research, published in the Journal of the Irish College of General Practitioners, found one-third of those surveyed had used herbal medicine, followed by 17 per cent using acupuncture. Homeopathy, aromatherapy and reflexology were used by 5 to 8 per cent of respondents.
Of the herbal medicines used, St John's Wort and fish oils were listed as the most popular. Some 29 per cent of those taking herbal medicine used echinacea and 25 per cent used soya, while 13 per cent used black cohosh, an alternative treatment for menopausal symptoms.
Dr Donohoe told The Irish Times he was concerned that only 9 per cent of patients would first seek advice from their GPs before using herbal medicines, while 15 per cent said they would not tell their family doctor if they were taking herbal medicines.
"An alarming 21 per cent of the herbal medicine users reported use of herbs and conventional medicine at the same time, thus increasing the likelihood of possible drug reactions."
Despite this, he said 79 per cent of those using alternative therapies felt herbal medicines were safer than prescribed medicines.
Dr Donohoe said he was surprised at the widespread use of alternative medicine by patients attending his practice and that the research highlighted the issue of communication between patient and GP.
"As patients appear unlikely to volunteer this information, GPs should routinely ask patients about their use of complementary medicine and attempt to advise them accordingly.
"GPs should seek to identify what complementary medicine is being taken, while keeping an open mind.
"Negative and dismissive attitudes to complementary medicine by doctors will not prevent its use," he said.
"In my opinion, GPs do not need to become experts on complementary medicine but do need to become more aware that a significant number of their patients may be using alternative medicine," Dr Donohoe added.