Use of medicinal plants by health professionals in Mexico

Publication date: 23 February 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 198
Author(s): Angel Josabad Alonso-Castro, Fabiola Domínguez, Juan José Maldonado-Miranda, Luis Jesús Castillo-Pérez, Candy Carranza-Álvarez, Eloy Solano, Mario Alberto Isiordia-Espinoza, María del Carmen Juárez-Vázquez, Juan Ramón Zapata-Morales, Marco Antonio Argueta-Fuertes, Alan Joel Ruiz-Padilla, César Rogelio Solorio-Alvarado, Joceline Estefanía Rangel-Velázquez, Rolffy Ortiz-Andrade, Ignacio González-Sánchez, Gustavo Cruz-Jiménez, Luis Manuel Orozco-Castellanos
Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe use of medicinal plants in Mexico has been documented since pre-Hispanic times. Nevertheless, the level of use of medicinal plants by health professionals in Mexico remains to be explored.Aim of the studyTo evaluate the use, acceptance and prescription of medicinal plants by health professionals in 9 of the states of Mexico.Materials and methodsDirect and indirect interviews, regarding the use and acceptance of medicinal plants, with health professionals (n=1614), including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and odontologists from nine states in Mexico were performed from January 2015 to July 2016. The interviews were analyzed with the factor the informant consensus (FIC).ResultsThe information obtained indicated that 46% of those interviewed feel patients should not use medicinal plants as an alternative therapy. Moreover, 54% of health professionals, and 49% of the physicians have used medicinal plants as an alternative therapy for several diseases. Twenty eight percent of health professionals, and 26% of the physicians, have recommended or prescribed medicinal plants to their patients, whereas 73% of health professionals were in agreement with receiving academic information regarding the use and prescription of medicinal plants. A total of 77 plant species used for medicinal purposes, belonging to 40 botanical families were reported by the interviewed. The results of the FIC showed that the categories of diseases of the digestive system (FIC=0.901) and diseases of the respiratory system (FIC=0.898) had the greatest agreement.ConclusionsThis study shows that medicinal plants are used for primary health care in Mexico by health professionals.

Graphical abstract

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