**7.4. Low cost**

In many rural communities, the cost of HMs is often low when compared to those of the conventional medicines. The TMPs who provide the services are usually community members who often live in the neighborhood of their clients (patients), as against the long distances to be traversed to reach the conventional medical centers. Most HMs are extemporaneously prepared or the herbal materials are given to the patient with an oral direction on how to prepare and use. The modalities of payment are usually more flexible as the TMPs, may accept part payments or payment in kind with items such as clothing, chickens, goats, and so on. This is nevertheless in variance to the exotic proprietary herbal products whose prices are often as high as those of the conventional medicines.

**9. Conclusion**

**Author details**

Philip F. Builders1,2\*

**References**

2004;**12**(1):17-27

\*Address all correspondence to: philsonsky@yahoo.com

1 Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of

2 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Raw Materials Development, National

[1] Bent S. Herbal medicine in the United States: Review of efficacy, safety, and regulation.

[2] Kessler RC, Davis RB, Foster DF, Van Rompay MI, Walters EE, Wilkey SA, Kaptchuk TJ, Eisenberg DM. Long-term trends in the use of complementary and alternative medical

[3] Bodeker G, Burford G. Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine: Policy and public health perspectives. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2007;**86**(1):77-78

[4] Fasinu PS, Bouic PJ, Rosenkranz B.An overview of the evidence and mechanisms of herb– drug interactions. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2012;**3**:69. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2012.00069

[5] Bensoussan A, Myers SP, Wu S, O'Connor K. Naturopathic and western herbal medicine practice in Australia: A workforce survey. Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

therapies in the United States. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2001;**135**(4):262-268

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria

Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2008;**23**(6):854-859

Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria

Even in the light of increased sophistication of modern healthcare as enriched by science and technology, the use of herbal medicine will continue to thrive in both poor and rich societies for many and probably different reasons. It is important for stakeholders: governments, farmers, scientists, healthcare providers (physicians, pharmacists and nurses) and biotechnical engineers to give enough attention to herbal medicines and its challenges in a deliberate effort to create for it appropriate niche that will ensure that it develops alongside with conventional medicine. The application of science and technology especially in area of information resources, conservation and cultivation, production, analytical techniques and quality control, clinical trials and regulation should be promoted. These efforts will boost benefits, confidence and safety in the use of HMs and its possible induction into the mainstream healthcare. Though, there are several literatures on HM, this book nevertheless has stooped to collate in a simple, unambiguous and readable manner a wide and indebt information that will be useful to all who have a stake in HM: scientist, healthcare professionals, engineers and the general public.

Introductory Chapter: Introduction to Herbal Medicine http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78661 7

#### **7.5. Efficacy of treatments**

In recent times, there have been increased research activities to verify claims and determine safety and quality control standards for herbal materials and products. The safety and efficacy of some herbal products have been scientifically evaluated to corroborate claims. The scientific proof of safety and efficacy has contributed to the increasing confidence and popularity of many herbal products. There are also certain diseases where patients have indicated preferences for HM instead of on pharmaceutical drugs [32].

#### **7.6. As the last resort**

Sometimes HMs are used as the last resort in the management of certain diseases especially when the conventional drugs have failed to yield the desired results or are accompanied by serious side effects especially in chronic diseases [33].
