Research in review: the role of herbal medicine in women's health.

摘要

Although the use of complementary and integrative therapies (CIT) is common in the general US population, with more than 38% of adults 18 years and older and 12% of children 17 years and younger utilizing some form of CIT for health and wellness, it appears to be even more prevalent among women.1-2 This article is the first in a series that will examine the role of herbal medicines in women's health.Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for more than 5.2 million visits to physicians' offices by women each year. Urinary tract infections are 50 times more prevalent in women than in men, largely because of anatomical differences. One of 5 women in the United States will experience a UTI at some point in her life. Most UTIs in women are categorized as uncomplicated, primarily affecting the bladder. Symptoms typically include increased urinary frequency, urgency, and painful urination. Escherichia coli causes 90% of UTIs by adhering to the wall of the bladder via thin, hair-like appendages called P-nmbriae.