Two surveys of GPs and the general public on their trust in and use of medical information.
Only about a third (37%) of the public trust evidence from medical research, compared to approximately two-thirds (65%) who trust the experiences of their friends and family.
Two-thirds (67%) of British adults and four-fifths (82%) of GPs believe that clinical trial research funded by the pharmaceutical industry is often biased to produce a positive outcome.
About half (47%) of British adults agree that, where possible, doctors should prescribe preventive treatments even if these have moderate side effects, while only about one-third (34%) of GPs say the same.
Scoping the evidence for the Effectiveness of Herbal Medicines - updated 2016 Herbal medicines are frequently used in the treatment of long-term conditions which are inadequately managed by conventional biomedicine. These have been termed ‘effectiveness gaps’ and include many of the chronic degenerative diseases that are now making the most pressing demands on healthcare systems in the developed world. Click here to view the document (pdf)
Antimicrobial resistance and herbal medicine A paper presented to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology by the EHTPA - November 2013. In light of growing concerns relating to microbial resistance to antibiotics increasing attention is being given to the role that herbal medicines may play as autonomous anti-bacterial agents or as adjuvant treatments used to potentiate conventional drugs. Click here to view the document (pdf)
Scoping study on herbal medicine and type 2 diabetes These included studies are a comprehensive, but by no means exhaustive, list of (mostly) blinded, randomised controlled trials. Taken as a whole, they demonstrate the significant potential of herbal medicine for managing T2D [Type 2 Diabetes] and improving glycaemic control. Click here to view the document (pdf)
For further reading, the website Herbal Reality has more information on herbal medicine research.