Status and Prospects of the Utilization of Medicinal Plants in the Philippines

Utilization of herbal medicine has been an intrinsic part of Philippine culture for many centuries. In spite of tremendous development in the field of modern medicine, traditional and alternative medicine will continue to flourish and take an important role in meeting the basic health needs of the people. The National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plant (NIRPROMP), the lead government institution for herbal medicinal research had already validated ten medicinal plants and is currently studying new batch of medicinal plants. Five of the ten clinically-tested medicinal plants have been elevated to herbal medicinal drugs that are now being commercially manufactured in the different parts of the country. Research on medicinal plants takes longer time as the nature of medical research dictates it to be. It must adhere to the internationally accepted standards of medicinal research in the Philippines was observed making alternative medicine an effective health delivery system to the people.