Exploring the Acceptance and Perceptions of Herbal Medicine among the General Public in Pakistan: A Societal Perspective

Abstract

Abstract Background: Herbal medicine has been widely used as an alternative or complementary form of treatment in many countries, including Pakistan. The objective of this study was to assess the perception and usage of herbal medicine among the general population of Pakistan with different educational backgrounds. Method: An online descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st January 2023 to 15th January 2023 through electronic media channels. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to gauge the most common disorders occurring in the population and the most common herbal medicines used by the population. Results: Out of 273 participants, 43.75% were male and 56.25% were female, with 78% belonging to the age group of 18-29 Years. Over 60% of the respondents have used herbal medicines in the last 6 months, with most of them using herbal medicine for 1 week. The most common source of medical information was from family and internet sources. Nearly half of the participants did not feel the need to inform their physician regarding their usage of herbal medicine, and most of the population perceived that herbal medicines are safer and more economical compared to pharmaceutical medicines. Conclusion: The study results showed that the population of Pakistan has a neutral to positive perception of herbal medicine, with most of them believing that herbal medicines are safe, economical, and have a beneficial effect on their health. Further research is needed to assess the safety and efficacy of herbal medicine in the population of Pakistan.