Traditional medicine is good, but why do some people still encounter problems when using it?

GĐXH – According to experts, currently, the achievements of traditional medicine and reputable oriental medicine establishments are being affected by the rampant impersonation and false advertising on social networks.

With a rich ecosystem, Vietnam is considered a country with great potential for cultivating and developing rare medicinal plants and herbs. According to statistics from the Institute of Medicinal Materials, Vietnam has recorded over 5,000 species of plants and fungi, 408 species of animals and 75 types of minerals with medicinal uses. Among them, there are many medicinal species that are valuable in terms of both medicinal uses and economic value.

The whole country has formed large medicinal herb growing areas, with precious medicinal plants such as Ngoc Linh ginseng, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom... Medicinal herbs in our country are being used to make medicine, food and cosmetics.

Traditional medicine does not have the advantage of treating acute diseases but has contributed to effectively treating non-communicable diseases such as bone and joint diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, diabetes... Illustrative photo.

Along with modern medicine, traditional medicine plays a key role in health care for the people. Currently, about 40% of patients at the grassroots level, 20% of patients at the provincial level and 10% of patients at the central level are treated with traditional medicine.

In addition, the country currently has nearly 70,000 members of the Oriental Medicine Association, with more than 11,000 clinics and oriental medicine centers. Among them, there are many physicians who possess valuable, family-held remedies.

According to experts, traditional medicine does not have the advantage of treating acute diseases but contributes to the effective treatment of non-communicable diseases such as bone and joint diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, etc. Accordingly, some hospitals have applied traditional medicine in palliative care for cancer and diabetes treatment.

However, in many places today, people use medicinal herbs for health care or medicine out of habit or because they listen to other people's advice. Or there is a situation of using the wrong medicinal herbs, using traditional medicine for the wrong purpose, causing the medicinal herbs to not work, even causing negative effects on health.

Besides, a notable issue is that the achievements of traditional medicine and reputable oriental medicine establishments are being affected by the rampant impersonation and false advertising on social networks.

Referring to this situation at a press conference to inform about the 2nd National Fair of Medicinal Herbs, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Herb Products in 2024, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Thinh, Director of the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management (Ministry of Health) said that recently, the Department has received many complaints from traditional medicine establishments doing business honestly, and physicians owning traditional medicine prescriptions that have been impersonated and widely advertised on social networks, causing loss of reputation and threatening people's health.

In particular, the situation of advertising "traditional medicine" to sell traditional oriental medicines that are exaggerated to cure many chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer has appeared widely on Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube channels... This greatly affects the value of traditional medicinal herbs.

In addition, the situation of marinating and spraying preservatives on medicinal herbs and oriental medicines to sell on the market has caused many buyers to suffer from liver and kidney failure after long-term use and have to be hospitalized for emergency treatment, also causing much frustration and concern for medicinal herbs and traditional medicine.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen The Thinh affirmed that businesses that are granted GDP (Good Distribution Practice) certificates and official hospitals never spray, marinate, or use preservatives in medicinal herbs and oriental medicines. Only unofficial products, or some "quarantines" can use preservatives, and patients who buy them and use them may suffer unfortunate illnesses.

Therefore, according to Mr. Thinh, the most important measure to avoid these cases is to increase propaganda to raise people's awareness of fraudsters. When there is a need to use traditional medicine to treat diseases, people need to go to reputable facilities to get prescriptions and medicine that is appropriate for their condition, not listen to and believe in advertisements that exaggerate the effects of traditional medicine and oriental medicine from "quacks" to avoid "losing money and getting sick".

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/cac-bai-thuoc-y-hoc-co-truyen-tot-nhung-tai-sao-co-nguoi-van-gap-hoa-khi-su-dung-172241107191109492.htm