**9. Conclusion**

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

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 prefer-

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

The therapeutic benefits of HM in relation to general healthcare will continue to expand and attract popularity even with increased sophistication of the conventional healthcare systems as associated with genetic engineering and medical biotechnology. In many societies where HM constitutes an integral part of the healthcare system, the scheme to integrate it into the primary healthcare system is still farfetched because of matters that pattern to issues of stan-

The traditional method used for monitoring and assuring quality of HM consists mainly of organoleptic evaluations. These are critically simple and subjective thus not compatible with the modern concept of quality control. In many countries, mandatory regulation of HM now requires scientific-based evaluations that employ high-tech analytical techniques to monitor and control the quality of products [34, 35]. At present, no official techniques or standards are available for the universal evaluation of HM. Many manufacturers of herbal products are either adopting tests and parameters as well as limits used for pharmaceutical drugs or selfdetermined in-process parameters and limits for their quality control evaluations. Though, these are good shots towards an effective standardization and quality control. In most cases, nevertheless, the techniques are not officially validated according to ISO standards, which is critical for universal acceptance. Standardization of HM using official techniques though

However, the regulation of HM in many countries is less rigorous when compared to those of pharmaceutical drugs. The issues of therapeutic efficacy, safety, or quality are often not strictly

regulated. In many of these countries, they are promoted as natural and harmless [36].

doable will be a herculean task because of the complex nature of HMs.

often as high as those of the conventional medicines.

ences for HM instead of on pharmaceutical drugs [32].

serious side effects especially in chronic diseases [33].

**8. Standardization and regulation**

dardization, quality control and regulation.

**7.5. Efficacy of treatments**

6 Herbal Medicine

**7.6. As the last resort**

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.
