Abstract

CHALLENGES, CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN HERBAL MEDICINE-A REVIEW

*K. Sudha, A. Faridha, K. Sankar Ganesh, G. Essakkipandian and A. Kingsly

ABSTRACT

Nature has provided a complete store house of remedies to cure all ailments of mankind. The usage of plants as medicine by the human beings from middle paleolithic age some 60000 years ago. In the ancient time almost all the medicines were used from the natural plants, to cure all ailments. The plant being man’s only chemist for ages. Herbal medicines have been widely practised because of their, very low risk of toxicity or drug interaction, in fact few many have powerful hepatoprotective and detoxifying properties. This work represents, what are the challenges, such as Botanical identification, Drug adulteration, Purification...and constraints such as, Availability, Taste, Shelf life...and opportunities such as Less side effect, Rejuvanating, Immunomodulator. in herbal medicines. Today herbal medicines are also in great demand in the developed world for primary health care because of their efficacy, safety, and lesser side effects. Herbal medicines offer therapeutics for age related disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Osteoporosis, Autoimmune disorders, etc. for which the modern medicine are not effective. Herbal medicines have to overcome the constraints and challenges and then it shall be upgraded and so the opportunities in this can be improved.

Keywords: Siddha, suthi, kayakalpam, herbal medicine.