AMMAN —- Herbal treatment demands have notably risen
since the breakout of the
COVID-19 pandemic, with Jordanians turning to natural
remedies to combat diseases, Khaberni reported.
اضافة اعلان
Um Al-Abd, a mother of five, told Khaberni that she
prepares
natural herbs such as chamomile, anise, dried turmeric, guava leaves,
and ginger for winter use, emphasizing a preference for natural remedies over
pharmaceuticals as a last resort.
She said, “We rely on herbs not only in winter. Every
evening, before bedtime, my children and I take an herbal mixture for the colon
because it soothes the intestines instead of taking medical drugs.”
She also believes that the
COVID-19 pandemic has
demonstrated to the world the necessity of strengthening immunity with natural
substances, especially after the fear of treatments and vaccines that have side
effects on the human body.
On her part, 44-year-old Manal Yassin said she always
looks for natural recipes on social media, specifically those that have been
tried and received good feedback from many people.
Additionally, Manal Abu Kaf, who owns a herb shop south
of Amman, inherited the profession from her father. “There is a greater
awareness among people now about the benefits of herbs as an alternative to
medical treatments, especially after the
COVID-19 pandemic, and people are
convinced of the quality of natural recipes rather than vaccines.” She stated.
Abu Kaf confirmed that each season has its specific
herbs, and ensures to provide them in large quantities, whether from local
wholesale traders or through imports, emphasizing that herbalists need
experience, as it is not permissible to prescribe any herb just because we
heard about it and tried it, as there are toxic herbs.
Furthermore, Mahmoud Maqbel, the owner of an herbal
shop, said he loves the profession and started learning it more than 12 years
ago by reading books and magazines and listening to the experience of people
who have a long history in this field. He mentioned that the prices of natural
herbs vary depending on their rarity and availability, but all of them are
within reach of all classes.
An epidemiology consultant, Dr. Bassam Al-Hajawi,
stated that in cases of emerging epidemics that do not have treatment or
vaccines, rumors and confusion arise about dealing with them, adding that
conspiracy theories emerge, and people fear chemical treatments.
Hajawi adds that although the
World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the pandemic has ended, it continues with the presence of new
virus variants, 'so rumors have reappeared, and there is fear of vaccines.'
Moreover, he does not deny that many medicines have
natural components originally, but they are manufactured through careful
scientific methods. However, he believes that doctors cannot rely on
alternative medicine recipes or herbal treatments because they have not been
approved by the
Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA).
Even with the tremendous advancement in chemistry and
drug manufacturing, not all active ingredients of these herbs have been
identified, and therefore, reliance on herbal medicines remains the basis for a
large percentage of pharmaceutical drugs used today.
Notably, Jordanians' inclination towards consuming
medicinal herbs is a popular legacy inherited from their fathers and ancestors,
at a time when there was no medicine and remedies to treat them.
Read more National news
Jordan News
