ViewPoints Article: Ethno-Pharma- An Emerging Sector

The Healthcare sector in 2021 is evolving to a greater extent owing to the initiatives and advancements taking place to futureproof the healthcare facilities from uncertain, unwanted, and deadly events like Covid-19. These advancements are happening while keeping the patients at the center with more focus on preventive and immune health. 

Now while talking about preventive immune health, we can see at large, traditional medicines and integrative medicinal practices are emerging in the modern scenario of healthcare. Ethno-pharma, an ethnomedicinal field, which majorly deals with traditional and folk medicines is also set to boom in upcoming years.

While focusing on the cultural determinants for traditional medicines and also pharmaceuticals, ethno-pharma deals with the investigational approaches in finding the possible use/perception of traditional medicines (and also pharmaceuticals) in the culture.

Ethno-pharma and ethnopharmacology follow the ‘multidisciplinary scientific approach’ through which various holistic approaches can be made to innovate novel treatment strategies for the management of various chronic diseases and to explore their relevance to modern healthcare.

India is widely known as the ‘home to medicinal herbs’ as traditional and integrative medicines are well-accepted and established in the country. However, the concept of ethno-pharma is yet to establish in India as a very small cluster of the population is aware of this field. Following are some promising approaches that can put light on the ethno-pharma sector in India in the coming years.  

New Research and Progressions in the field of Herbals 

Traditional medicinal plants contain a wide variety of chemical groups which exert different biological effects through which several chronic diseases can be cured in a natural way. As ethnopharmacology majorly deals with the pharmacognostic, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of natural drugs and medicinal plants, looking at the current advancements in Indian research and development, some promising novel herbal drugs can be invented in the years ahead.

Moreover, to develop new molecules which are safe as well as affordable, a number of pharmaceutical companies are showing rejuvenated interest in natural drugs. Covid-19 and the increased prevalence of lifestyle diseases and non-communicable diseases have led down a rigid platform for herbal drugs which in turn boosting the research and development in the area at 2× speed.

Changing Attitudes, Driving Markets

Besides Pharmaceuticals and Chemically derived entities, most of the consumers due to awareness are looking for natural medicines. Pharmaceutical medicines have their own place in curing patients and through vaccines, even preventing certain diseases, however, the movement towards natural products and ethnopharmaceuticals has a social impact besides medical impact. Due to this, a great market transformation can be seen in the herbal and natural ingredients area.  

The Indian traditional medicines market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.06% through INR 300 billion in 2018 and can account for INR 710.87 billion by 2024. This market growth can be beneficial in increasing the evidence-based research in the area of ethnomedicines. 

Government Bodies Supporting Traditional Knowledge

Ayurveda and Homeopathy medicines covered under the AYUSH system of medicines have a strong correlation with ethnopharmacology as the field is associated with traditional medicines to a greater extent. Owing to this, the Ministry of AYUSH is taking several efforts to involve the ethnopharmacology model in the syllabus of alternative medicine systems. Due to such approaches, an individual subject can also be expected in the syllabus of AYUSH which can further propel the growth of the ethnomedicinal sector.

AYUSH initiatives to boost the immune health in Covid-19 through traditional remedies have emerged as an uplifting factor for natural medicines and further advancement in this area by the major companies like Dabar, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Himalaya, etc. are opening the doors wide open for the future astonishing growth in the herbal field. 

Moreover, Society for Ethnopharmacology (SFE) in India is working with the reputed academicians, researchers, and industry dignitaries with the goal of ‘Globalization of local knowledge and localizing global technologies. This society can be of great benefit in spreading the knowledge of traditional ethnomedicines to stabilize the ethno-pharma sector in the country.

To effectively march toward the healthy future of the Indian population and the economy, the ethnomedicinal sector should be well equipped with technological advancements like the pharmaceutical industry. Scientific-evidence-based approaches for herbs, herbal products, ethno-herbal extracts are important which will drive this field much effectively and it can become more approachable for modern healthcare practices.

Along with all these, quality control and quality assurance are the key parameters that major herbal products fail to follow as compared to pharmaceuticals. Certain policies in this area can also help to develop the natural sector in much flawless and productive manner.

Source: Mental Itch

About Author:

Dr. Smarta is the Founder and Managing Director of Interlink which is a business-performance consulting firm operating in the Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceutical, and Wellness domain for over 35years. Dr. Smarta plays a critical role in shaping the Nutraceuticals industry through his associations with various boards, committees, and government bodies. He currently serves as a Vice President of HADSA (Health foods and Dietary Supplements Association) and is associated with various Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical boards and committees such as IPA, CSIR, IDMA, and CII.

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