Herbal medicines guide for the healthcare professional

Herbal Medicine Guide for the Healthcare Practitioner Author: Dr. Jaber bin Salim Mousa Al-Qahtani Binding: Cover Volumes: One Paper: Shamooh Size: 14 × 21 Overview: Herbal prescriptions have influenced the chemical medicine industry, as herbal compounds have been separated into pharmaceutical forms: tablets, pills, capsules, injections, mixtures, effervescent granules, extracts, and ointments. Herbal healing is not a recent development; the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used herbs for treatment, commanded his companions to treat, and advised his nation with many types of treatment that existed in his time and still do. Due to the increasing demand in recent years for herbal treatment, the World Health Organization issued its resolution No. (C S A 30/49), urging governments to give sufficient importance to herbal medicine. After issuing this resolution, it made great efforts to revive herbal medicine globally. To ensure safety in herbal medicines, the following conditions must be met: • The herb containing the active ingredient must be collected, cleaned, dried, packed, and stored under correct scientific standards. • It must be packaged in attractive, clean containers, with the outer packaging including complete information about the herb or plant part, such as its local name and scientific name. If the formula is a mixture of several herbs, their full names and the active ingredients of each herb must be listed, along with possible side effects. The dosage for children and adults should also be specified, as well as the expiration date. There should be a warning on the herb’s package regarding pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five years old. • The herbal medicine should not have adverse effects on health or cause allergies. • It should not conflict with other herbal medicines or dietary supplements, nor with chemically manufactured medicines. • It should not interfere with foods or laboratory tests for diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, or cholesterol, among others. • It should not conflict with certain diseases such as bleeding, infertility, epilepsy, kidney and liver issues, gout, blood thinning, blood clotting, vascular and heart diseases, insomnia, or schizophrenia. • The herbal medicine must be free from toxic substances, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, drugs, pesticides, insecticides, and parts of insects or pests. I hope this book will enrich the Arab library, benefit public health practitioners, and raise awareness among readers for optimal use of herbal medicine.