Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
08:07
Preparation of Herbal Medicine: Er-Xian Decoction and Er-Xian-containing Serum for In Vivo and In Vitro Experiments
Published on: May 31, 2017
Herbal Medicines: Malaysian Women's Knowledge and Practice
1Advanced Medical & Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200 Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : Ecam
|October 5, 2013
Summary
Malay women frequently use herbal medicines like Anastatica hierochuntica L. during pregnancy and labor, often unsupervised. While believed effective, their knowledge of herbs is generally low, with income impacting this understanding.
Area of Science:
- Ethnobotany
- Pharmacognosy
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Herbal medicine use during pregnancy is prevalent globally.
- Understanding traditional practices is crucial for maternal healthcare.
- Limited data exists on herbal medicine use among Malay women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and patterns of herbal medicine use in pregnancy and labor among Malay women.
- To identify the most popular herbal remedies and their sources.
- To conduct elemental analysis of commonly used herbs and assess women's knowledge and beliefs.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, descriptive study involving 460 Malay women in antenatal and postnatal wards.
- Survey questionnaires to gather data on herbal medicine usage, sources, and knowledge.
- Microdiffraction analysis for elemental composition of popular herbs.
Main Results:
- 34.3% of women used herbal medicines during pregnancy; 73% used them during labor.
- Anastatica hierochuntica L. (60.1%) and coconut oil (35.4%) were most common.
- Herbal medicine use was largely unsupervised (81%), with low knowledge levels (89.8%).
- Elemental analysis of Anastatica hierochuntica L. revealed beneficial elements like carbon, oxygen, silica, calcium, and iron.
Conclusions:
- Herbal medicine use is common among Malay pregnant women, driven by beliefs in efficacy and safety.
- Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding herbal medicine use during pregnancy.
- Further research and supervised guidance are needed to ensure the safe use of herbal medicines in pregnancy.
