The Practice of Herbs Integration Among Patients With Hypertension Attending Primary Care Facilities: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The practice of integrating herbs among patients with hypertension to manage their condition has become more evident across many countries. This systematic review was conducted primarily to determine the prevalence and diversity of herbs used by patients with hypertension attending primary care facilities. Data Sources: Studies were obtained from five electronic databases (September 2019) and references of included studies. Review Methods: Studies performed on patients with hypertension attending outpatient clinics and hospitals that reported prevalence or diversity of herbs were included. Two independent researchers performed screening, quality appraisal and data extraction. Results: Sixteen studies were included in this review. The prevalence of herbs used ranged from 6.5% to 69.0%. The two most common herbs reported were Allium sativum and Vernonia amygdalina. The main reasons patients’ took herbs were to reduce blood pressure, to relieve symptoms of the disease and perception that allopathic medicine was a failure. Age, education level, presence of other family members with hypertension and gender were significantly associated (p<0.05) with the use of herbs. Conclusion: Patients with hypertension who attend outpatient clinics tend to use herbs to complement their allopathic medicine. Further evaluation in the form of randomized controlled trials should be conducted to determine the effectiveness of herbs and herbal medicine in improving hypertension among patients.