Forest Loss is severe in the tropics g 口Asia■ Africa■ Latin america■ World The rapid destruction of our tropical rainforests threatens the development of potentially useful drugs
Medicinal Plants in the tropics Most medicinal plants have been identified by the indigenous people by trial and error 50% of the 250,000 plant species are from the Tr topICs At least 10,000 species in the Tropics have not yet been identified
Problems associated with use of Herbal medicines Lack of Qc& standardisation Adulteration with other plants, pharmaceutical drugs or heavy metals Inappropriate use/ misleading claims
HOW DO HERBS WORK? For most herbs the specific ingredient that causes a therapeutic effect is not known Whole herbs contain many ingredients, and it is likely that they work together to produce the desired medicinal effect
Ask me no questions -I'll tell you no lies (why patients may not volunteer information) Lack of awareness of the potential for adverse effects/interactions Don't consider product to be a medicine Fear of censure Belief that the doctor/pharmacist doesn 't know about alternative medicines