Importance and effectiveness of herbal medicines

Dr. Susan Sam

Importance and effectiveness of herbal medicines

Author(s):

Dr. Susan Sam

Abstract:

This paper attempts to analyse the importance and effectiveness of Herbal and Traditional medicines. It is a medical system that has its origin in ancient cultures and that involves the medicinal use of plants and its extract to treat illness and to assist bodily functions. It has been around since prehistoric times. Herbal medicine is still the mainstay of about 75% of the world population, especially in the under developed and developing countries, for primary health care because of better cultural acceptability, better compatibility with the human body and lesser side effects. However, in the last few years there has been a major increase in their use in the developed world. In Germany and France, many herbs and herbal extracts are used as prescription drugs. Herbal treatments are the most popular form of traditional medicine, and are highly lucrative in the international marketplace. The medicinal plants contribute to cater 80% of the raw materials used in the preparation of drug. It can be taken orally or applied locally.

200 years ago the first pharmacological compound morphine, was produced from opium extracted from the seeds of poppy flower. Since then scientists have been studying plants to create the pharmaceutical products, and people are beginning to pay more attention to natural herbal medicine which are relatively modest when compared to the traditional drug development. Today plants are being used to treat a number of health issues, proving that food is medicine. Traditional herbal medicines are getting significant attention in global health debates Inventory and documentation of various medicinal plants and herbs, which are used to treat common diseases, should be developed. For the preservation of medicinal plants, establishment of community gardens and kitchen gardens is necessary. This will ensure sustainable supply of safe, effective and affordable medicinal herbs. Steps taken by various government departments and NGOs in this direction in recent years would definitely strengthen the traditional healthcare systems.

The review concludes that the use of herbal medicines and initiatives to develop it will enable the developing countries to look inward rather than continuing to rely on expensive, imported medicines having side effects.

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