Traditional Medicine

Natural products, mainly plants, have been used for many years as sources of medicines, cosmetics, agrochemicals, and other food and industrial products. Since the second half of the 20th century, however, synthetic organic chemistry has replaced many of these substances. The resurgence of natural products is now driven by the growing trend to harness biodiversity and integrate sustainable practices. This has led to their overuse in the treatment of a wide range of physical and mental health problems, with significant pharmacological, social, and economic consequences. As a result, several myths about their history, pharmacology, and efficacy have emerged, including distortions of chemical reality, invented statistics, false beliefs, and questionable extrapolations. This article focuses on the overestimation of the capabilities of natural products by society and, to some extent, the scientific community. In particular, it examines the origin and evolution of available ethnopharmacological information and its efficacy and safety.