Integrating Ancestral Plant-Based Medicine to Reduce Hospital Visits: A Preventive Healthcare Perspective

Abstract Healthcare systems worldwide face escalating strain due to rising rates of preventable hospital visits associated with chronic disease progression, delayed early-stage care, and inequitable access to primary healthcare services. Emergency departments are increasingly utilized for non-emergency conditions, contributing to overcrowding, increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of care. Ancestral and traditional plant-based medicine—widely practiced across cultures and historically embedded within community health systems—offers preventive and early-intervention strategies that may reduce unnecessary hospital utilization. This paper critically examines ethnomedicinal practices, pharmacological evidence, and integrative healthcare models to evaluate the role of ancestral plant-based medicine in reducing hospital visits. Drawing on ethnobotanical research, biomedical studies, and public-health frameworks, the paper explores mechanisms of action, chronic disease support, mental health regulation, accessibility, safety considerations, ethical challenges, and policy implications. The findings suggest that evidence-informed integration of ancestral plant-based medicine into modern healthcare systems has the potential to enhance preventive care, improve population health outcomes, and alleviate hospital burden, particularly in underserved communities. Continued interdisciplinary research, regulatory oversight, and ethical collaboration with indigenous knowledge holders are essential for responsible implementation. Index Terms— Ancestral medicine, ethnomedicine, medicinal plants, preventive healthcare, hospital utilization, integrative medicine.