Reflections on the Human Condition - Api-fellowships.org

CHANGING LIFESTYLES AND HEALTH
RESEARCH ON MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THAILAND BETWEEN 1998-
2002: THE BIOMETRIC APPROACH
Ambar Yoganingrum
INTRODUCTION
In the last decade, there has been a global rise in the
use of traditional medicine and complementary and
alternative medicine not only in developing countries
but also in developed countries. The most widely
used traditional medicine and complementary and
alternative medicine therapies are herbal medicines and
acupuncture. The popularity of herbal medicine was
gained as people in the world wants back to nature.
(Prana, 2004; Zhang, 2000)
In a survey between 1987-1996, 34% of Americans
use complementary medicine. It increased to 40% in
1997 (Zollmand and Vickers, 1999; Tanne, 1998).
The popularity of herbal medicine increased in
Australia especially the use of western herbal medicine.
(Wohlmuth and Nathan, 2002; Alternative and
Complementary Medicine in Australia, 2005; Tanne,
1998) The increase of public demands for complementary
medicine such as acupuncture, homoeopathy, manual
therapy or manipulation, and herbal medicine were
differ among countries in Europe but the demands
were strong and growing. (Tanne, 1998; Hoareau and
Da Silva, 1999; Fisher and Ward, 1994) Countries in
Africa had declared the program namely “Promoting
the Role of Traditional Medicine in Health systems:
A Strategy for the African Region” in 2000. The
program was conscious of African member states of
the fact that about 80% of the population living in the
African region depend on traditional medicine for their
health care needs. (Zhang, 2000; Timmermans, 2005)
In several Southeast Asia countries such as Indonesia
and Thailand, the traditional medicine became more
popular because synthetic drug prize increased when
the economic crisis hit those countries in the middle
of 1997. (Prana, 2004; Department of Industrial
Promotion, 2005; Sudibyo, 2005)
There are various reasons why people in the world
prefer using herbal medicine than synthetics. Some of
them believe natural drugs are safer than synthetics. It is
also cheaper than modern medicine for daily health care
purposes. In Indonesia it has been used from generation
to generation, therefore they believe the merit of herbal
medicine for health care. (Department of Industrial
Promotion, 2005; Sulhi-intisari-cn02, 2004)
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Herbal medicine is an important component of
national health system in several South East Asian
(SEA) countries such as Indonesia and Thailand. Those
countries are not only abundance of plant diversity but
also rich of traditional knowledge on herbal remedies.
(Zhang, 2000; Timmermans, 2005)
Indonesian has recognized herbal medicine since 17 th
century. They use plants as a medicine (known as jamu)
to cure various kinds of illness, to maintenance good
health, as cosmetics, indeed to maintain a loving family
harmony, which jamu could make a women and men
sexual organ in a good condition. (Sulhi-intisari-cn02,
2004)
Based on survey in 1989, folk medicine particularly from
herbs still played an important role in primary health
care of Thais. Thais, in each region of the country,
use medicinal plants to cure common ailments. They
use also as ingredients in foods and drinks. (Saralamp,
1996; Ruprecht, 2003; Samabuddhi, 2003)
Thai government has a commitment to revive and
promote scientific interest in medicinal plants and use of
medicinal plant in the primary health care system since
1977. Thai government declares that folk medicine is
an alternative medicine and a complement of modern
medicine especially for people in rural areas. The Thai
government increased the budget for knowledge and
standards for alternative and traditional Thai medicine
and Thai herbal medicine in fiscal year 2002. (NRCT,
2005) Thai government built institutions, implemented
several major projects and conducted researches regarding
herbal medicine during about 30 years. Those efforts
also were responses for World Health Organization
(WHO) statement in 1977. 1
It is important to clarify several aspects such as the
growth of research, the particular subjects on medicinal
plants developed, and the number of institutions
and researchers having the role of the development.
In developing countries sometimes those aspects are
obeyed whereas in fact could assist the improvement
and the development of research on herbal medicine.
Moreover if compared by the role of herbal medicine as
an important component in national health system.
Ref lections on the Human Condition: Change, Conflict and Modernity
The Work of the 2004/2005 API Fellows