Objective. To determine the prevalence of herbal treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods. In this prospective study, patients who were diagnosed with perennial allergic rhinitis were questioned about their use of natural products/herbal therapies for their symptoms. Results. In total, 230 patients were enrolled. Overall, 37.3% of the patients stated that they had used natural products/herbal therapies at least once. Women were more likely than men to use herbal supplements (38.3% versus 32.4%). Ten different types of herbal supplements were identified, with stinging nettle (Urtica dioicath), black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), and Spirulina being the most common (12.6%, 6.1%, and 5.7%, resp.). Conclusion. This study found a high prevalence of herbal treatment usage for the relief of allergic rhinitis symptoms in Turkey. The herbal products identified in this study and in the literature are discussed. 1. Introduction Along with acupuncture, yoga, massage, and speleotherapy, herbal therapy (HT) is a therapeutic option available as complementary alternative medicine (CAM) [1]. It has a long historical tradition, with the medicinal use of herbs being reported as early as 2800 BC. Around 400 BC, Hippocrates described the relationship between nutrition and health as “Food be medicine and medicine be food” [2]. In recent years, traditional therapies have gained in popularity for medical and economic reasons, in both developing and industrialized countries [3]. The prevalence of herbal therapy use differs according to country and medical condition. The general literature indicates that 25–50% of the general population and up to 70% of children have used a CAM method at least once [1]. A study in Americans demonstrated a 29% prevalence of HT use for rhinosinusitis [4]. In a study from Spain, 34.4% of 400 patients with allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) had used at least one type of alternative medicine, and among these patients, 31.5% had used a natural medicine [5]. A recent study from England demonstrated that 65% of those questioned had used CAM for rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis [6]. A study from Israel reported a rate of 19% for the use of CAM to treat rhinosinusitis [7]. Herbal therapies have a variety of pharmacological actions, as well as potential adverse effects and potential drug interactions. Some HTs produce bleeding, cardiovascular instability, or altered glucose levels. Others can potentiate the sedative effects of anesthesia and increase the metabolism of drugs during the postoperative period. Thus, the
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