Jeremy Ohara

Author
Jeremy Ohara

Exploring the Role of Herbal Medicine in Contemporary Healthcare

  Jan 17, 2024
Reviewed by Ravinder Kaur

Herbal medicines have a vital impact on contemporary healthcare because they help maintain mental and physical well-being as a whole. People are using herbal medicines worldwide these days. 

Very few of them know the reasons why these medicines are used. The integration of herbal medicine used in modern medical practices like cancer treatment etc. Herbal medicines have been used for ages in the treatment of various diseases. 

These medications are extracted and created from natural resources like plants, roots, seeds, etc. In this article, we will dive into the realm of herbal medicines expecting contemporary healthcare.

4 Impacts of Herbal Medicine in Contemporary Healthcare

Herbal medicines do not contain chemical or synthetic ingredients inside them. Another reason these Medicine are relevant is, that they are more affordable than regular drugs. These medicines usually do not have many side effects, but you must consult a doctor before having herbal medicine. 

Historical Significance and Modern Impact

Herbal medicines have been used by our ancestors for ages, mainly in the old civilizations of the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, etc. The knowledge of creating and having these medicines has been passed on from generation to generation. 

Herbal medicines are created based on the concepts of plants and trees, which help cope with different diseases. These medicines were the primary options for treatment until the emergence of modern medicines in the 19th century.

Nowadays, herbal medicines are playing a vital role in shaping modern health treatment. Herbal medicines are not just limited to uses in conventional ways, these days people are also using these medicines as the natural alternative to modern medicines.

Herbal medications

Interesting Facts:
Herbal medications are used worldwide by people to improve their health conditions. Increased use of these medicines is leading to an increase in the market size of this industry.
 The market size of herbal medicines was 84.50 billion in 2019. The affordability and effectiveness of these medicines are helping in the growth of the market size. This industry is growing every year with around a 20.50% growth rate. 

Consumer Perspectives and Usage Patterns

The use of herbal medicines has increased over the years. A study found that the use of these medicines increased from 34% in 1990 to 42% in 1997.  From different reports and surveys, it comes into consideration that most users of these medicines are females, middle-aged people, and educated people. 

The literature inconsistencies and the large country-specific differences have well-defined terminology in every country and treatment type.  A study was conducted on the research methodology and data collection of herbal medicines.

In this process, researchers conducted the qualitative descriptive method for data collection. This research was conducted based on the recommendations of Krüger & Casey. There were six groups in this study, each having six to nine members.

Integration into Evidence-Based Clinical Practices

The integration of herbal medicines or any kind of traditional medicines can be done in medical practices through three methods. Firstly, it can be incorporated into the framework of the formal healthcare system of the country. 

The second one is to be used in modern health treatment by individual practitioners. The third method is to integrate herbal medicine and modern medicine as the two branches of medical science. 

The medical education system of China is designed in a way that students get information about traditional medicines while studying modern medical science. 

In Western countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, and members of the European Union, herbal medicines have been used as alternative medicines for two to three decades and become a multibillion-dollar industry. 

Relationship Between Traditional and Modern Medicine 

Natural medicine products and traditional medicine have been around for ages. In the beginning, these medicines were only practiced in a particular area, and gradually they started spreading systematically throughout the world. 

Since the end of the 1980s, individual practitioners and pharmacists started using herbal products with the use of modern drugs. 

Apart from learning from the traditional cultures and how they have transformed natural resources into medicines, we can also incorporate the community practices of medical treatment. 

One of the major diseases that troubled the whole of humanity is smallpox. Millions of people died because of this disease at that time. Traditional medicines were the only solution to cope with the disease at that time. 

The vaccine today we use for smallpox is the result of ancient herbal medicines.

If you are searching for apothecary herbs near me for herbal medicines and natural products, then consider their use with the guidance of a medical professional.   

Final Discussion

Human history is the history of medicines in coping with different diseases. Medicines have evolved from year to year according to different kinds of diseases. Doctors recommend modern and traditional medicines based on the problems people have. 

In history, our ancestors have seen many diseases which killed millions of people. It is the need of the hour that medical science should evolve more rapidly so that unexpected disease threats can be faced. 

In this article, we explored the role of herbal medicine in contemporary healthcare. If you find it helpful, share it with your friends and family members.




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