Cases like these present challenging questions related to the role of traditional herbal

medicines in public health.

UNDER COST
Given the increased use of herbal medicines, possibilities that would ensure their
successful integration into a public health framework should be explored. This is compounded by
the fact that health services are expensive, especially to the poor people. Most people have
resorted to the use of traditional medicine and especially in the community of Nagbukel,
Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.
BELIEF
According to Eisenberg (2020) Reports have indicated that patients/guardians do not
disclose to their physician their previous usage of herbal medicine. Buck and Michel (2010)
express that “health care providers can play an important role in educating patients and their
parents about the potential risks of herbal therapies and the need to closely monitor any use in
children.” The more knowledge healthcare professionals acquire on herbal medicine therapies,
such as herbal use, the better they can empower caregivers to make informed decisions on
whether herbal usage is appropriate for their children or adults. By providing an open
atmosphere, caregivers will likely be more receptive to advice on important issues surrounding
herbal usage such as safety, risks and benefits.
ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
Shaikh and Hatcher (2005) There are several reasons for the use of herbal medicine and
these vary from country to country. The most common reasons for the continued use of herbal
medicine are that, it is more accessible, more affordable, culturally acceptable, and above all
effective (Darko, 2009). Herbal medicine is more readily accessible and available to many
people, especially rural areas (Otieno, 2010). According to Sawyer et al. (2008), access to
essential medicines is severely restricted by lack of resources and poverty. Herbal remedies,
often closely resembling or forming the basis for alternative remedies, may comprise primary
health care or be integrated into the healthcare system.
QUALITY
Wider and Zhang (2011) The popularity of herbal medicines has risen worldwide. This
increase in usage renders safety issues important. Many adverse events of herbal medicines can
be attributed to the poor quality of the raw materials or the finished products. Different types of
herbal medicines are associated with different problems. Quality issues of herbal medicines can
be classified into two categories: external and internal. In this review, external issues including
contamination (e.g. toxic metals, pesticides residues and microbes), adulteration and
misidentification are detailed. Complexity and non-uniformity of the ingredients in herbal
medicines are the internal issues affecting the quality of herbal medicines. Solutions to the raised
problems are discussed. The rigorous implementation of Good Agricultural and Collection
Practices (GACP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) would undoubtedly reduce the risk
of external issues. Through the use of modern analytical methods and pharmaceutical techniques,
previously unsolved internal issues have become solvable. Standard herbal products can be
manufactured from the standard herbal extracts.
LOCATION OF RESIDENCE
Brgy. Cadacad, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. Cadacad is a barangay in the municipality of
Narvacan, in the province of Ilocos Sur. Its population as determined by the 2015 Census was
682. This represented 1.55% of the total population of Narvacan.
EFFECTIVENESS
Firenzuoli and Gori (2007) Several factors are important in determining the outcome of
any traditional treatment, both in experimental and clinical settings including forma mentis,
beliefs, knowledge and practical abilities of the provider, as well as the positive or negative
prejudices of the patient with respect to the provider of the therapy, cultural differences in the
acceptability of the treatment and adherence to it, the patient–doctor encounter, and differences
in access to other treatments. In the age of globalization and of the so-called ‘plate world’,
assessing the ‘transferability’ of treatments in herbal medicines is not a relevant goal for clinical
research, while efficacy and safety should be based on the normal patterns of mainstream clinical
medicine.
PREPARATION
Bhat (2013) A single herb, or a combination of different herbs, can be used as preventive,
promotive, and curative substances. Fresh preparations are the most commonly used, but there
are many limiting factors, namely, availability, area of collection, convenience, and potency.
Adequately grown herbs are available in certain seasons, but sometimes their collection is
restricted to certain seasons. Herbal drugs are also not available in all localities. In some cases
the potency of & herbal drug does not depend on the season only but also on the area. The tastes
of patients differ from one individual to another, and, because of this, herbal drugs have to be
prepared in different forms to suit the individual patients. Finally, the potency of herbal medicine
can be modified according to the patients' need for utilizing different methods of preparation.
Therefore, the potency of the herbal drug can be increased, decreased, or restored.
REFERENCES:
The efficacy of herbal medicine–an overview
Edzard Ernst First published: 21 April 2005
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-8206.2005.00335.x

Herbal Medicine Today: Clinical and Research Issues

Fabio Firenzuoli and Luigi Gori
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2206236/

Barbara Wider, Junhua Zhang 04 Septenber 2011

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22305255/

Fabio Firenzuoli, Luigi Gori 06 October 2007

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2206236/

Kate Bhat, 25 February 2013

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