Self‑medication with Herbal Medicines, an Untamed Threat to Global Health

Abstract

Herbal medicine has metamorphosed into a major component
of traditional medicine all over the world, including African
medicine, homeopathic, ayurvedic, naturopathic, traditional
oriental, and native American medicine. Statistics have shown
that the use of herbal medicine is constantly rising globally
both in developed and developing countries. According to the
World Health Organization estimate, about 80% of the world’s
population depend on herbal products for primary health care.[1]
Reports have also shown that not only have the use of herbal
medicine increased, but also the pattern of use has changed, as
self‑medication with herbal medicine increased between 1997
and 2002 by 10% and this have even increased since then.
[2] The use of medicinal agents (including herbal medicines)
for curative or prophylactic purposes without prescription or
advice from an appropriate health professional is referred to
as self‑medication.