The influence of ethnicity on use of herbal remedies in elderly Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites

Abstract

Objective: To compare the use of herbal remedies between elderly, self-identified Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites (NHW).

Design: Cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey.

Patients/setting: 186 patients, 65 years and older, at a university-based, ambulatory, senior health center.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: Differences in herbal use patterns between Hispanic and NHW participants. Main outcome measures were participants' use of herbal remedies, types of remedies used, medical reason for use, age, sex, Hispanic or NHW ethnicity, income, and education.

Results: Overall, 61% of patients had used an herbal remedy at some time in their lives. A larger proportion of Hispanic subjects used herbal remedies than did NHW subjects (77% versus 47%, respectively). Hispanic subjects preferred to use the raw herb in a tea, whereas NHW subjects preferred processed herbs in a capsule or tablet form. Significantly more Hispanic subjects grew or gathered their own herbs and received their information about herbs from a family member than did NHW subjects. Few subjects in either ethnic group received their information about herbal remedies from an allopathic provider. For both groups, the herbs most often used were yerba buena, manzanilla, poleo, osha, and alhucema. The top perceived medical problems that herbs were used for were health care maintenance, dyspepsia, upper respiratory infection, skin problems, and anxiety/nerves/insomnia.

Conclusion: Ethnicity was related to the frequency of herbal use, the choice and preferred form of herb, and the source of knowledge of herbal remedies. Hispanic culture may account for the observed differences.