The usage of the most frequently preferred herbal products in Turkey in nursing mothers, newborns, infants and children
This study was conducted to identify the most frequently used herbal products available in the pharmacies for the healthcare of nursing mothers newborns, infants and children and to compare their efficacy and the safety of some herbal ingredients in comparison with those reported in the literature. Today, mothers visit the pharmacies with several complaints for themselves and their children. Although these complaints may appear simple at the first glance, they are of importance due to their frequency among people. In this context, herbal medications and chemical agents are being used for the treatment of such complaints. The most frequent problem of nursing mothers seems to be hypogalactia according to the interviews conducted with the pharmacists of 40 pharmacies from several municipalities of Istanbul and Ankara for this study. Pharmacies have several herbal medicines or medicinal teas that are being used for their galactagogue effect. On the other hand, the problems encountered in children generally include lack of appetite, cold, colic, insomnia, and weakness of the immune system. Therefore, herbal remedies and medicinal teas that used as dietary supplements, immune system strengtheners, anti-cold and anti-colic agents are preferably recommended by the pharmacists for the relief of these problems. In addition, externally used herbal preparations are also involved in the composition of various anti-rash creams or lotions, foam shampoos, hair and body shampoos, baby oil and lotions, and bath oils. Notably, these herbal preparations may not be as harmless as they are considered; therefore, their usage should be more conscious particularly in these special patient groups.
