Efficacy Of Herbal Drugs and Cost-Effectiveness

Abstract

Since times immemorial, mankind has relied on herbs and plants on natural origin to alleviate its sufferings. Irrespective of the geographical separation among different civilizations, the dependence on plants for treating diseases and ailments was common to all settlements. The ethnopharmacological basis of various existing drugs is well established.  With advancements in science and technology, the herbal medicines have also seen a transition from galenicals, pills, extracts to high end herbal capsules and other refined formulations. Inspite of meteoric rise in the sale and composition of herbal medicines around the globe, there have always been questions on the efficacy and cost effectiveness of these remedies. This chapter will focus on the scientific and well documented cases of efficacy of such drugs and also provide a commentary on their cost effectiveness. Attempts will also be made to compare the costs with other lines of treatment and their associated side effects. Further, the safety and toxicity of herbal drugs and their interaction with allopathic drugs will also be discussed.

Objectives:

• Understanding the historical development of herbal drugs


• Understanding the benefits of herbal drugs


• Assessing the cost effectiveness of herbal drugs


• Understanding the various herb-drug interactions

Exploring the reasons for toxic effects of natural medicines