A 72-year-old male presents to the physician complaining of waking up multiple times during the night to urinate and having trouble starting his stream. The patient reports that his health food store owner recommended that he try an herbal medication. Which of the following herbal agents did the health food store owner likely recommend to help this patient’s condition?
A.Echinacea
B.Feverfew
C.Kava
D.Saw palmetto
E.St. John’s wort
Explanation
USMLE Step 1 expects a familiarity with herbal agents and complementary and alternative medicine. In this question, the patient’s symptoms of urinary frequency and hesitancy are consistent with BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia. Saw palmetto (choice D) has been reported to help patients with BPH.
The other herbal agents are not recommended for BPH: Echinacea (choice A) is used for the common cold.
Feverfew (choice B) is used to relieve migraines. Kava (choice C) is used for chronic anxiety.
St. John’s wort (choice E) is used for depression.