Volume 19, Issue 1, January 2014, Pages 4–7
Perspective
Traditional use of medicinal agents: a valid source of evidence
- Available online 6 August 2013
Highlights
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- Natural products are still the most important source of drugs and lead compounds.
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- Tradition is a process of handing down objects or customs over three generations.
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- Research into the tradition of medicinal plants can contribute to drug development.
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- This is neither reflected by regulatory regulations nor by the Ebm concept.
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- Thus it is suggested to create another (low) Ebm evidence level.
Traditional
knowledge uncovered by serious historical research may help to identify
new therapeutic agents. It also plays a part in safety evaluation and
drug regulation. So far, however, this way of gaining knowledge is very
much neglected in the concept of evidence based medicine, which is in no
way contradictory to traditional use.
Thus, the
true meaning of the word ‘tradition’ is described, while reliable
historical sources are quoted. It is then shown how research into the
traditional use of medicinal plants is able to reveal knowledge about
efficacy and safety of natural products. Several examples successfully
leading to new therapeutic options are given. It is then referred to the
concept of ‘social validation’ developed by the Canadian medical
historian John Crellin, who also established guidelines for respective
research. Eventually, it is proposed to modify the list of evidence
levels by inserting an evidence level 4b ‘Traditional use in more than
one regional cluster’.
- Corresponding author:.
