Rethinking Botanical Healing in World Religions: Nexus, Gains, Gaps, and Recommendations for Improved Healthcare

This article examines the perspectives of selected global religious groups in Asia, the Americas, and Africa on herbal medicine (HM). It highlights their nexus and sheds light on the gains, gaps, and challenges arising from the interaction or disconnection between spirituality and herbalism. It raises four questions bordering on (1) the spiritual undertones of herbal medicine, (2) the nexus, gains, and gaps of HM, (3) the implications of the gains, gaps, and challenges on improved healthcare, and (4) possible recommendations to address the gaps and challenges. The study reveals that problems affecting the effectiveness and maximization of HM for improved healthcare stem from stakeholders. These include (a) religious groups that reject and demonize HM via poor theology and indoctrination, (b) herbalists with superstition, intentional secrecy to monopolize knowledge of herbal medicine, and substandard application of the products, (c) health policymakers who pay poor or no attention to the regulation and manufacturing standards, and (d) consumers who subscribe to HM without herbal historical knowledge and medical advice. As a recommendation, five key points are presented to support a rethinking process for maximizing the benefits of herbal medicine and enhancing healthcare.