ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

Rational use of drugs refers to the use of
right medicine, in right dosage, for right
ailment for a right
period of time and at right price. Any
deviation from these could be called
irrational use of drugs.
Irrational use of drugs is an important
problem worldwide. Deviation from above
statement is not
uncommon in any part of the globe. WHO
estimates that more than half of all medicines
are prescribed,
Rational use of medicines requires
that "patients receive medications
appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses
that meet their own individual requirements,
for an adequate period of time, and at the
lowest cost to them and their community".(1)
Deviation from the above definition could
be termed as the irrational use of drugs
which is not uncommon in any part of the

dispensed or sold inappropriately, and that half world so also in India. The overuse,
of all patients fail to take them correctly. This is underuse or misuse of medicines results in
a more
wastage of scarce resources and widespread
serious problem in the field of traditional
herbal medicine owing several reasons. The health hazards. Examples of irrational use of
situation is more
medicines include: use of too many
worsened by the quacks as most of them are
medicines per patient ("poly-pharmacy");
not properly trained in herbal medicine and
simply continue inappropriate use of antimicrobials, often in

their legacy. This is sometimes complicated by inadequate dosage, for non-bacterial

some other factors such as lack of proper
infections; over-use of injections when oral
governmental
formulations would be more appropriate;
patronization, research and development,
standardization and quality control etc. In this failure to prescribe in accordance with
paper an attempt
clinical guidelines; inappropriate self-
has been made to assess the problem
statement of irrational use of herbal drugs and medication, often of prescription-only
ways ahead to address medicines; non-adherence to dosing
the same in an Indian perspective. regimes.(1) This is a more serious problem in

the field of traditional herbal medicine

Key Words: Herbal drugs, Irrational use, owing to several reasons. The situation is
Problem statement, Ways ahead
more worsened by the quacks as most of
them are not properly trained in herbal answer the above mentioned questions.

medicine and simply continue their legacy.

This is sometimes complicated by some Extent of Irrational use of Herbal drugs: A

other factors such as lack of proper World Health Organization estimate shows

governmental patronization, research and that up to 80% of populations in some Asian

development, standardization and quality and African countries still depend on herbal

International Journal of Health Sciences &
Research (www.ijhsr.org) 162
Vol.4; Issue: 2; February 2014
medicines.(3) Here one thing can be
mentioned that when there is such a huge
usage the possibility of irrational use cannot

be denied. One of the recent studies shows

control etc. Use of indigenous drugs for
that 22% of the preoperative patients use
various ailments has been rampant all over
herbal medicine.(4) About four decades ago,
India, especially in rural areas. Commonly,
an outbreak of a veno-occlusive disease with
not taken seriously by clinicians, these
42% mortality occurred in central India
indigenous drugs/medicines can be
following consumption of cereals mixed
devastating and detrimental for patients and
with seeds of a plant (Crotalaria sp.)
reflect a major public health problem. (2)
containing pyrrolizidine alkaloid.(5) A study

showed that most Ayurvedic preparations

DISCUSSION
may culminate in lead poisoning as
While discussing the irrational use of
evidenced by higher blood lead, more
drugs or in this case herbal drugs several
basophilic stippling, lower hemoglobin, and
questions come to our mind such as(1) what
higher protoporphyrin in patients consuming
is the extent of use of irrational use of herbal
standard Ayurvedic medicines.(6)
drugs?(2) Who are responsible for irrational

use of herbal drugs and who are the victims?

What factors contribute to the irrational use?

And(4) what are the biological impacts of

irrational use of herbal drugs? In this

segment an attempt has been made to

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