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    This document discusses herbal medicine and its use around the world. It notes that 75-80% of the world's population uses herbal medicine, particularly in developing countries, and the global market for herbal medicine was estimated to be between $30-60 billion at the turn of the century. However, research and development funding for herbal medicine lags behind that of conventional pharmaceuticals. While herbal medicines have few side effects, the lack of research means the efficacy of some herbs is unknown and in rare cases mixtures of herbs can be toxic. The document argues that increasing research on herbal medicines could improve their efficacy and availability, and that more funding should be allocated to herbal medicine research rather than just pharmaceuticals.

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    This document discusses herbal medicine and its use around the world. It notes that 75-80% of the world's population uses herbal medicine, particularly in developing countries, and the global market for herbal medicine was estimated to be between $30-60 billion at the turn of the century. However, research and development funding for herbal medicine lags behind that of conventional pharmaceuticals. While herbal medicines have few side effects, the lack of research means the efficacy of some herbs is unknown and in rare cases mixtures of herbs can be toxic. The document argues that increasing research on herbal medicines could improve their efficacy and availability, and that more funding should be allocated to herbal medicine research rather than just pharmaceuticals.

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    104 views3 pages

    Biol 1740 Research Paper

    Uploaded by

    api-285220193
    This document discusses herbal medicine and its use around the world. It notes that 75-80% of the world's population uses herbal medicine, particularly in developing countries, and the global market for herbal medicine was estimated to be between $30-60 billion at the turn of the century. However, research and development funding for herbal medicine lags behind that of conventional pharmaceuticals. While herbal medicines have few side effects, the lack of research means the efficacy of some herbs is unknown and in rare cases mixtures of herbs can be toxic. The document argues that increasing research on herbal medicines could improve their efficacy and availability, and that more funding should be allocated to herbal medicine research rather than just pharmaceuticals.

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    of 3

    Kevin Rivera

    Jim Smith
    Biology 1740.528
    March 17, 2015

    Herbal Medicine
    Many parts of the world still rely on herbal medicine. Herbs have negligible side effects whereas
    synthetic pharmaceutical medicine has a vast array of side effects. Herbs are generally faster,
    better, and safer than synthetic medicine so why does the pharmaceutical market specifically in
    the United States still thrive? Perhaps, it has to do with the economical characteristics, efficacy,
    and availability of herbal medicine.

    According to V.P. Kamboj 75-80% of the world population uses herbal medicine. Most of this
    population lives in developing countries. At the turn of the century, the market for herbal
    medicine was $30-60 billion. Whether it was $30 or $60 billion does not matter; the numbers are
    still large. However, in 1996 the US herbal medicine market was at $4 billion compared to the
    EU1 at $6 billion. It is no surprise that the EU accepts herbal medicine with more ease than the
    US.

    European Union

    The efficacy of herbal medicine varies. Herbal medicine has been around for a long time because
    it has negligible side effects.(Kamboj; 36). While that is true, the efficacy of some herbal
    medicines lacks due to low concentrations of active principles and the lack of knowledge about
    the composition of extracts (Firenzuoli, Gori; 37). The effect of an herbal medicine varies from
    person to person because there is not enough research on specific herbs derived from plants. The
    side effects of this therapeutic2 medicinal approach are low, but without enough research there
    have been instances where two or more herbs have mixed to form a deadly poison (Firenzuoli,
    Gori; 38).

    India has over 3,000 documented plants that contain medicinal value (Dubey, Kumar, Tripathi;
    37). As stated in the previous paragraph, not enough research for herbal medicine is being
    conducted for therapeutic medicine to reach its full potential. Therefore even if there were
    millions of medicinal plants in India they wouldn't be of use without proper research funds.

    While herbal medicine in the EU is available and the efficacy is good, the lack of research puts
    herbal medicine behind pharmaceutical medicine. The market, and hence, the efficacy of herbal
    medicine in the US would increase if more funds would be allocated to research. Efficacy and
    availability depend on research funds. Therefore, funds should be distributed more towards
    herbal medicine than pharmaceutical medicine.

    Herbal

    Citations:
    Herbal Medicine
    Kamboj, V.P. "Herbal Medicine." Herbal Medicine 78.1 (2000): 35-51. Print.

    Global promotion of herbal medicine: Indias opportunity


    Dubey, N.K., Rajesh Kumar, and Pramila Tripathi. "Global Promotion of Herbal Medicine:
    India's Opportunity." <i>Global Promotion of Herbal Medicine: India's Opportunity</i> 86.1
    (2004): 37-41. Print.
    Herbal Medicine Today: Clinical and Research Issues
    Firenzuoli, Fabio, and Luigi Gori. "Herbal Medicine Today: Clinical and Research Issues."
    Herbal Medicine Today: Clinical and Research Issues (2007): 37-40. Print.

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