Why is research necessary to prove that herbs work?
Research studies are the backbone of conventional medicine. They have provided us with a wealth of valuable information in all fields, including human biology and the health sciences. The whole issue, however, is complicated by nonscientific factors that influence which therapies are given funds for research and which are not. Research is costly, running into the millions, and most natural products do not have any major funding behind them. In Europe – where many herbal medicines are classified alongside pharmaceutical products, prescribed by doctors, and covered by the national health plans – it’s a different story. Because herbal medicine is accepted in Europe as a legitimate form of therapy, the drug companies there have the financial incentive to do the necessary research.
