Written by Rebecca Lazarou
Herbal medicines are fast gaining popularity – but why? Here, medicinal plant scientist Rebecca Lazarou dives into what is causing this shift in paradigm.
The trend
More and more so in the past couple of decades people have been turning towards natural medicines for their healthcare (1). Herbal medicines generally fall into the “alternative” or “complementary” healthcare sectors. However these terms can be misleading as for an increasing number of people herbal medicines are their primary form of healthcare. The terms “alternative” or “complementary” are imposed from a hegemonic medical system, in which anything that deviates is implied as lesser than or simply an add-on.
Anecdotal evidence from herbalism schools shows that the number of applicants to train as herbalists has risen to levels never seen before. One might even say that plant based medicines are becoming more and more normalised in society. However it must also be noted that university courses have slowly been closing down over the years, and efforts are needed to reinstate them so that herbal research and longevity can be assured.
There has not been much recent academic research conducted on the general populations use of herbal medicines during the pandemic, however market research shows use has risen exponentially. Herbal medicine markets global sales are expected to grow from $83 billion in 2019, to a staggering $550 Billion by 2030 (2). Unfortunately this money is not generally falling into herbalists hands, rather it is being generated by often less scrupulous supplement companies. The point here though is that the peak in interest from the public is undeniable and rising rapidly.
Why are herbal medicines on the rise?
Lucy Reed is a PhD candidate researching the use of herbal medicines at Reading University. When asked why herbal medicine use is on the rise she replied
“Various factors seem to be implicated, for example, television programmes and social media making the field more visible, along with higher incomes to invest in health products and an increase in the training of therapists. In recent (COVID-19) times, lack of access to conventional medicine and a more pressing interest into how we can promote a healthy immune system have also been contributing factors.”
The reasons for the rise in herbal medicine use are multifaceted. Factors that predict participants’ use of CAM in Western countries include poorer health, specifically chronic health conditions, higher education (3), a life-changing experience that impacted on a person’s world view, spirituality, a commitment to the environment, personal growth, and interestingly, feminism (4). It has been postulated that the rise in CAM is due to increased anxiety about health across society (4). A national survey conducted in the USA showed that the most significant predictor of CAM use were higher education status followed by overall health status (3). Other reasons include a changing (and more sceptical) perspective of pharmaceuticals and people wanting to use medicines with fewer side effects. Also preventative healthcare is becoming a higher priority for people, and herbal medicines can help massively with this.
Increasing scepticism of pharmaceuticals
There has been an increase in media exposure on the topic of overmedication, with programmes such as “The Doctor Who Gave Up Medicine”, and prominent public figures who are pro “de-medication” such as Dr. Ranjan Chaterjee who advocate “lifestyle prescriptions” (rather than immediately seeking pharmaceutical prescriptions) frequenting popular BBC programmes and popular tabloids. It is well known that there is some public angst around this topic (5) both in informal interviews and on the surveys (6). Case studies such as the opioid crisis (7) linked to aggressive marketing from certain pharmaceutical companies, have also made people more skeptical of using pharmaceuticals as a first call of action. A survey shows that people generally prefer to use herbal medicines for illness over pharmaceuticals, in particular for illnesses that are not dangerous (1). However there is a limitation in surveys in that those who are already interested in a topic are more likely to answer, creating a source of bias.
Shockingly, the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer is the side effects of pharmaceuticals. Some of the largest corporate fines in history have been to pharmaceutical companies and corruption has been exposed time and time again. Less than favourable results from research are repeatedly covered up, and data is manipulated for favourable marketing. The results of this have been catastrophic, nonetheless it is legal. Books such as “Deadly Medicines and Organised Crime: How Big Pharma Has Corrupted Healthcare” by Peter Gotzsche, “Bad Pharma: How Medicine is Broken, and How We Can Fix It” by Ben Goldacre and “Death by Medicine” by Dr Gary Null, go into depth exposing how the industry works. With knowledge like this becoming more commonplace, it is understandable why people are seeking different options for healthcare.
Cannabis and psychedelics: A contributing factor?
Other factors that may contribute to this trend include the rise in cannabis-based medicines. Products like CBD oil are gracing many shelves on the high street, and perhaps the cannabis industry is a gateway to exploring how plants can affect your wellbeing. The efficacy of these natural medicines has now become common knowledge to many people, potentially shifting the perspectives of the previously plant-avert. Plenty of research in this industry has shown the benefits of using extracts which have a multitude of molecules in them, rather than isolated compounds. This is something called the synergy effect, which increases efficacy and safety of a formula. The industry are marvelling at this exciting new thing to market, as traditionally they focus on one molecule with pharmacological effect. Synergy or the “entourage effect” is heralded at conferences and by brands as a phenomena that is key to quality medicine – ironically this is something herbalists have been shouting about for years! Perhaps the acceptance of this in the scientific community, and by consumers has allowed the door to herbal medicines to be opened a little wider. Afterall this is how plant medicines work- they all have entourage effects.
Amazingly the psychedelics industry is set to overtake the booming cannabis industry. Fungi such as psilocybin mushrooms (8), and plant formulas such as the Ayahuasca brew are at the forefront of psychiatry and scientific research now. There are countless trials being conducted in the UK, and globally with researcher’s hopeful that such medicines will be available on the NHS in the coming years. Slowly people’s perspectives are shifting from the traditionally dogmatic view that pharmaceuticals best. Perceptions are changing, and therefore so are people’s behaviours and spending habits. It is important to note that there is no data to support the notion that cannabis and psychedelics are gateways to herbal medicines. However, one thing is clear- people’s perspectives are changing and herbal medicines, cannabis and psychedelics are paving the way for a shift in the wellbeing paradigm. As well as a need for people to address pervasive mental health issues, there is a growing yearning for people to search for meaning in life.
The downside of increasing popularity
Whilst it is wonderful that people are turning towards plants for healing, there are many problems this causes too.
“The natural products and herbal supplements field is vast and most people probably still don’t question (let alone know) where the plants in their medicine come from. Many harvesting practices are still unsustainable but it’s often difficult to trace where plants originated. So, while there is a movement towards growing awareness of these issues there are many challenges ahead. “ Lucy Reed
Unsustainable harvesting practises can leave plants near extinct. Rapid booms in a species popularity can lead to very poor quality products, and also the exploitation of workers is a massive issue within the industry. Learn more about some fantastic sustainability initiatives with the United Plant Savers and other articles on Herbal Reality particularly under the Sustainability and Social Welfare section. Other initiatives to protect workers include the Fair Wild foundation, and buying organic is one of the best ways to ensure traceability.
The future
The popularity of herbal medicine is almost certain to continue to rise. Hopefully more holistic healthcare options such as social prescriptions become more commonplace too. Chronic disease is rising, and herbal medicines can play a fundamental part in improving people’s quality of life. They can work brilliantly, and are safe- it is understandable why they are gaining popularity. More education is needed amongst the public, doctors, scientists and regulators in order to raise awareness for herbal medicines and increase quality standards.
When asked about the future of herbal medicines, Lucy replied “I think many people are becoming more aware of sustainability and responsible sourcing as they relate to herbal medicine, and the benefits of using locally harvested plants, as highlighted in publications such as the Business of Botanicals by Ann Armbrecht and the Self Sufficient Herbalist by Lucy Jones. I hope that herbal medicine can become a truly integrated and sustainable field. On a global scale, conserving cultural knowledge and skills and at the same time making supply chains more transparent and accountable. Here in the UK I hope that more people who wish to are empowered to grow and/or forage their own medicinal plants – it’s great to see the creation of so many community herb gardens in this respect.”
A sentiment we wholeheartedly agree with!
References
- Lazarou R, Heinrich M. Herbal medicine: Who cares? The changing views on medicinal plants and their roles in British lifestyle. Phytotherapy Research. 2019;33(9):2409-2420. doi:10.1002/ptr.6431
- Slice I. Herbal Medicine Market Global Sales Are Expected To Reach US$ 550 Billion by 2030, as stated by insightSLICE. GlobeNewswire News Room. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/16/2176036/0/en/Herbal-Medicine-Market-Global-Sales-Are-Expected-To-Reach-US-550-Billion-by-2030-as-stated-by-insightSLICE.html. Published 2022. Accessed February 10, 2022.
- ASTIN J. Why Patients Use Alternative Medicine: Results of a National Study. Survey of Anesthesiology. 1999;43(3):181-182. doi:10.1097/00132586-199906000-00061
- Ritchie M. Use of herbal supplements and nutritional supplements in the UK: what do we know about their pattern of usage?. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2007;66(4):479-482. doi:10.1017/s0029665107005794
- Cohen D. How our reliance on opioids may be doing more harm than good. Standard.co.uk. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/the-opioid-timebomb-special-evening-standard-investigation-into-the-overuse-of-prescription-painkillers-a3791051.html. Published 2022. Accessed February 10, 2022.
- Hawkes N. Public’s distrust of medicines needs urgent action, says academy. BMJ. 2017:j2974. doi:10.1136/bmj.j2974
- Times F. Judge overturns $4.5bn opioid-related settlement in Purdue Pharma bankruptcy. Ft.com. https://www.ft.com/content/9f94d55b-0656-4234-adf5-7a76b3730fc0. Published 2022. Accessed February 10, 2022.
- College K. Psilocybin Trials. Kcl.ac.uk. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/psilocybin-trials. Published 2022. Accessed February 10, 2022.
