Herbal Medications: An Evidence-Based Review - 1 AOA Category 1-A Credit

Provided by an AOA-accredited Category 1 CME sponsor, this activity is eligible for AOA Category 1-A credit and includes instructor interaction; questions submitted by email will receive a response within 48 hours. Herbal supplement use is now routine in many patient populations, yet it is often underreported and poorly documented. For osteopathic physicians, this is a high-impact opportunity to apply whole-person care by integrating patient beliefs, lifestyle choices, and biomedical risk into safer clinical decision-making. This course delivers an evidence-based review of commonly used herbal products with a clear focus on clinical pharmacology, safety data, and the situations most likely to create preventable harm. Participants will strengthen their ability to screen for supplement use, interpret risk, and counsel patients with confidence, especially when polypharmacy, anticoagulants, cardiovascular medications, perioperative care, pregnancy, and chronic disease complicate the picture. The activity also clarifies the U.S. dietary supplement regulatory landscape, including DSHEA, so clinicians can explain quality concerns, labeling limitations, and uncertainty in a way patients understand. Designed to close the training gap in herbal pharmacology and drug herb interactions, this course equips physicians to identify high-risk scenarios early, reduce adverse events, and deliver integrative guidance that protects patient safety while honoring osteopathic, patient-centered care.

The widespread use of herbal supplements by patients represents a critical component of modern healthcare, offering healthcare professionals a unique opportunity to apply a whole-person, patient-centered approach. This course offers an evidence-based examination of commonly used herbal products, focusing on clinical pharmacology, safety data, and high-risk prescribing scenarios. It equips clinicians with the skills to guide patients in making safe, informed, and effective decisions within an evolving integrative medicine landscape.

A significant practice gap exists for many healthcare professionals due to a lack of formal training in herbal pharmacology, drug-herb interactions, and the complexities of the dietary supplement regulatory landscape (DSHEA). This knowledge deficit can lead to an inability to identify high-risk clinical situations. This course closes that gap by providing the in-depth clinical knowledge required to expertly screen for, evaluate, and manage patient use of herbal supplements, thereby improving patient safety and realizing the commitment to whole-person care.