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Original ArticleOpen Access
Herbal Medicine: Affecting Factors and Prevalence of Use Among Thai Population In Bangkok
Satyapan N 
,
Patarakitvanit S ,
Temboonkiet S ,
Vudhironarit T ,
Tankanitlert J
,
Patarakitvanit S ,
Temboonkiet S ,
Vudhironarit T ,
Tankanitlert J Background: Remarkable growth in use of herbal medicines has recently been noted. In Thailand, eight items of herbal
medicines with single composition are currently placed on the National List of Essential Medicines (EM). This study was to
clarify the actual state of factors affecting the usage and knowledge of these herbal medicines, as the study concerning with
these aspects was infrequently performed.
Material and Method: A descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted by using self-administered questionnaires.
Six hundred and thirty-one subjects were randomly sampling and the data were analyzed by the Statistic Package for the
Social Sciences software program.
Results: The finding revealed that 28.6% of total subjects had experienced on herbal medicine treatment, especially eight items
listed in EM. The elderly and government officers usually purchased the drugs from hospital and drugstore, while housewife
purchased them from supermarket. Subjects with positive attitude towards herbal medicine use usually were government
officers. Almost all of herbal medicines were well-known about their indications by less than 55% of total subjects. Among all
well-known indications, the relief of gastric distress by Zingiber officinale was the most well- known one (73.2%). On the
other hand, high percentage of media exposure (55-70%) was found in majority of the subjects which indicated that media was
more likely to influence consumer’s knowledge and behavior.
Conclusion: Only 28.6 % of total subjects had experienced on herbal medicines listed in EM, despite of high percentage of
media exposure. Therefore, the providing proper information of herbal medicines on various medias and integrated education
about herbal medicine in medical curricula could effectively help increase appropriate drug use and consumers’ safety.
Keywords: Herbal medicine, Thai population
medicines with single composition are currently placed on the National List of Essential Medicines (EM). This study was to
clarify the actual state of factors affecting the usage and knowledge of these herbal medicines, as the study concerning with
these aspects was infrequently performed.
Material and Method: A descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted by using self-administered questionnaires.
Six hundred and thirty-one subjects were randomly sampling and the data were analyzed by the Statistic Package for the
Social Sciences software program.
Results: The finding revealed that 28.6% of total subjects had experienced on herbal medicine treatment, especially eight items
listed in EM. The elderly and government officers usually purchased the drugs from hospital and drugstore, while housewife
purchased them from supermarket. Subjects with positive attitude towards herbal medicine use usually were government
officers. Almost all of herbal medicines were well-known about their indications by less than 55% of total subjects. Among all
well-known indications, the relief of gastric distress by Zingiber officinale was the most well- known one (73.2%). On the
other hand, high percentage of media exposure (55-70%) was found in majority of the subjects which indicated that media was
more likely to influence consumer’s knowledge and behavior.
Conclusion: Only 28.6 % of total subjects had experienced on herbal medicines listed in EM, despite of high percentage of
media exposure. Therefore, the providing proper information of herbal medicines on various medias and integrated education
about herbal medicine in medical curricula could effectively help increase appropriate drug use and consumers’ safety.
Keywords: Herbal medicine, Thai population
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