Alternative medicine: Information sources

Last updated: Tuesday, April 19, 2022

With this topic, more than most, there are many unreliable sources of online information. You may like to look at our brief guide to evaluating websites about medicines. Only use validated websites where you can be sure of the quality of information such as the ones below, and take care that some products with the same or similar brand name may have different ingredients.

• The Natural Medicines Database is a US resource that is useful for a range of clinical problems. It requires a subscription, but some MI centres have access. 

• The Memorial Sloan Kettering website has a free and detailed guide to many herbs and dietary supplements, outlining interactions, side effects and warnings.


• There are some helpful reviews of individual herbs or dietary supplements on the Mayo Clinic website and the SPS website (use the search bar).

• The Pharmaceutical Press publishes resources that you may have access to. Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements can help with a range of clinical problems including contraindications, adverse effects, interactions, and efficacy. Stockley’s Drug Interactions includes some information on herbal medicines and supplements, but Stockley’s Herbal Medicines Interactions is a companion text that solely focuses on interactions with complementary therapies. 

• Google can be helpful to try to identify more obscure products, but bear in mind the limitations about reliability. 

Presenting your answer 

Once you’ve asked sufficient questions, gathered the information required and assessed it, you’ll need to provide an answer. We can offer you some general guidance on answering clinical problems.