An Investigation Into the Frequency of Use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Patients Presenting to the Dermatology Clinic: A Survey Study

Between June 2018 and April 2019, a survey study involving 651 dermatology patients over the age of 15 in Turkey revealed that 13.3% had used traditional and complementary medicine (TCM), with herbal remedies being the most common at 67.8%. Other TCM methods included cupping (16%), leech therapy (13.7%), and moxibustion (2.2%). University graduates and individuals aged 45-55 were the most frequent users. Leech therapy helped in flap surgery but had mixed results for other conditions and carried a risk of infection (21.8% to 27.5% of cases). Herbal remedies were popular for eczema but lacked scientific support and sometimes worsened conditions. The study highlighted the need for dermatologists to discuss TCM use with patients, particularly when conventional treatments fail or symptoms worsen, and called for standardized procedures to assess TCM efficacy. The study's limitations included its sample size and it was conducted ethically without financial support.