The tradition of drinking herbal medicine as an effort to maintain health has been going on for generations. However, the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine as a therapeutic option do not have a justifiable scientific basis. For this reason, the Ministry of Health, through the Health Research and Development Agency, has pursued herbal medicine science as a breakthrough in order to present scientific evidence of the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine from our ancestors.
Saintification is expected to be a bridge in integrating herbal medicine into formal health services.
Scientific herbal medicine is different from traditional medicine, standardized herbal medicine (OHT), and phyto-pharmacy. Traditional medicine is a preparation of natural ingredients that has not been standardized whose benefits are not based on the results of scientific testing, but on trust. The OHT is a traditional form of extract medicine that has been standardized and has passed preclinical tests (in animals). Meanwhile, phyto-pharmacy is also a standardized and extract form of traditional medicine that is not only tested pre-clinical, but also in human clinical trials. OHT and phyto-pharmacy dosage forms can be capsules or pills. As for scientific herbal medicine, it does not go through preclinical testing, because so far the community has used it empirically. Just like phyto-pharmacy, scientific herbal medicine has gone through clinical trials in stages I-IV. The form of scientific herbal medicine is simplicial to be boiled or capsules. Drug research Scientific proof of the efficacy of herbal medicine is not easy considering that there are so many herbs known to the public. For this reason, cultural-based medicinal research (ethnomedicine), namely the Research on Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Ristoja), was carried out in 2012. The aim is to identify the herbs and medicinal herbs commonly used by various ethnic groups in the country.
Marker compounds Each plant contains marker compounds which when properly combined with other medicinal plants will provide certain benefits. For example, cat's whiskers (Orthosiphon aristatus) contain sinensitin which functions to facilitate urination. Celery (Apium graveolens) contains the chemical element apigenin which functions to dilate blood vessels so that blood flow is smooth. Apigenin in celery also inhibits beta cells (betablockers) which strengthen the work of the heart. Meanwhile, gotu kola (Centella asiatica) contains asiaticosid which can improve blood circulation. Gotu kola works as a brain tonic. It can improve blood circulation to the brain. Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) contain curcumin which has an immunostimulating effect or increases endurance. Curcumin is also known to have a hepatoprotective or liver protective function and is anti-inflammatory. The meniran (Phyllanthus urinaria) which contains filantin functions to increase endurance. Another scientific herbal medicine is uric acid herbal medicine (hyperuricemia). The herbal medicine is a mixture of secang (Caesalpinia sappan), kepel (Stelechocarpus burahol), tempuyung (Sonchus arvensis), ginger, turmeric, and meniran. The bracillin compounds in secang are also flavonoids in kepel and tempuy which function to inhibit the xanthine oxidase enzyme which forms uric acid. Tempuyang is also effective in facilitating urination. That is the right combination, uric acid that does not form is excreted smoothly through urine. Curcumin which is widely available in ginger is a class of compounds with many functions. It is useful as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotector, and increases stamina.
With more and more scientific herbal medicine, it is hoped that the use of herbal medicine by medical personnel will become more frequent. "Herbal medicine must be the host in your own country,".
Herbal is good for everybody.