In line with strategic objectives set out in the WHO strategy for Traditional Medicines (WHO, 2013), we seek to build a consensus-based knowledge base about herbal medicine use in Mesoamerican Traditional Medicine. The review of the list of medicinal species represents a data compilation which could be used by the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopeia Commission to augment Annex VI (List of species used in medicine in Mexico). Preclinical and clinical data obtained from plant medicines obtained from the 98 medicinal plant species mentioned in at least nine studies were reported corresponding to the dominant traditional usage (use-record). Indeed, the ten botanical products are analogous to folk remedies reported to have been used in Old Mexican-American West Virginia.
The rates of use of herbal medicines were assessed both by older Mexican Americans and for both sociodemographic and health-related measures and also shows results from separate logistic regression models that model herb drug use on each of the health-related measures, controlling for effects of the sociodemographic variables.
Our findings are highly consistent with prior studies, noting similar medical conditions or long-term conditions associated with higher herb use. Although we did not find a relationship between the use of herbal medicines and access to health care, measured as measured by insurance coverage, we did find that respondents reporting a very high frequency of visits made to an allopathic doctor were between two and three times more likely to use herbal medicines than those who had fewer visits.
Traditional Herbal Supplements
Second, while we found associations between herbal drug use and specific health conditions, we did not ask subjects about specific reasons for taking specific herbs. Respondents were asked whether they had taken or used any folk medicines, herbs, or botanical remedies in the 2 weeks preceding their baseline interview. Clinicians need to keep an eye out for adverse effects and medication interactions associated with herbal remedies, and they should question all patients about the use of these products.
Talk to your physician about possible harmful effects of herbal medicines, and if they may interact with other medications you are taking, or with any medical condition you have. Avoid using herbal medications in children and if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. There are a number of concerns associated with using herbal medications, as, unlike traditional medications, they are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and manufacturers are not required to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of herbal medications before making them available to the public. While many view herbal medicines that have a clearly defined usage profile (one that is based on science and medical evidence) as phytotherapeutic products, others view such products as dietary supplements.
In some countries, licensing of phytotherapeutic products is considered sufficient, whereas in others, phytotherapy is considered to be a form of traditional medicine. The products used in phytotherapy are usually manufactured in an industrial manner using standard procedures, in contrast with herbalism. Phytotherapy is a science-based health practice, and is therefore distinguished from other, more traditional approaches, such as medicinal herbalism, which relies on an empirical assessment of herbal medicines, and is usually associated with traditional knowledge.
China has long accepted science-based medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine remains popular across the country, often offered at hospitals and clinics in conjunction with science-based medical treatments. Despite its long history and growing popularity, TCM has been criticized by the medical community for lack of effectiveness in many of its applications, the environmental community for using substances derived from animals, and its role in increasing demand for species at risk of extinction. However, while a history of mainstream medical usage may offer some evidence on the safety of plant medicines and their applications, it is important to emphasize that nature is not to be confused with safety, a commonly held misperception by consumers of plant medicines (WHO, 2013).
Herbal drugs are seldom tested with high-quality studies, and there is usually no definitive proof of a beneficial effect. The absence of pharmacological and toxicological data for even the most frequently used herbal medicines is generally considered to be a major constraint on integrative medicine in MA (Caceres Guido et al., 2015; Alonso-Castro et al., 2017a). The confusion between plant therapy and herbal medicines is also manifested by the complex regulatory landscape, in which assessments on what may or may not qualify as a remedy vary widely.
Considerations have implied that medicines made from plant substances are not proven therapies, and they are treated as such in some countries. Basically, medicinal herbs oils consist of both essential oils and fixative oils, depending on which parts of the plant are used as a source; however, the classification of herbs oils is not limited to those two groups.
Current medical studies related to the traditional applications of herbs oils and their active constituents are mentioned. In addition to simple oils, compounds from medicinal herbs are reported in Persian druggist manuscripts, which also describe inhibition of unwanted effects, decrease of potency, enhancement of effectiveness, enhancement of flavor, numerous therapeutic benefits, and modification of unwanted effects by using other herbal medicines (Aghili Shirazi, 1772). Extraction of oil-soluble ingredients from medicinal plants is reported in ancient documents, for example, lily oil extract used as topical analgesics (Adhami et al., 2007 ). The method of enfleurage, or infusion, is an easy method for extracting oil-soluble ingredients from plants and may be used in traditional methods for making plant oils. Essential oils are still produced in Iranian markets for medicinal plants, and they are still used extensively in Persian folk medicine. Currently, many of the therapeutic oils (Adhaan) are used by Iranian traditional practitioners as ethnomedical treatments (Mikaili et al., 2012). The Hot-Cold System and Therapeutic Procedures Mediate Medicinal Plant Use in San Miguel Tulancingo, Oaxaca, Mexico.