Medication: Herbal or non-herbal?

Since thousands years ago, medicinal plants have been used worldwide due to their easy access by many people to treat various diseases. In addition, semi-synthetic and synthetic medications gradually have been entered into the world medicine market. The use of any of the herbal or synthetic medications has its own advantages and disadvantages. Nowadays, people may use herbal and/or synthetic medicines which made them to be confused about the preference of these mediations. Given the above mentioned facts, the question for everyone would be the usage of herbal medicines to treat diseases or synthetic medications. Since thousands years ago, medicinal plants have been used worldwide to treat various diseases.1,2 In Iran 80% and 71.5% of people worldwide may use medicinal plants. 3,4 In addition, it should be mentioned that the speed of treatment of diseases using medicinal plants is not too short but obviously shorter than the synthetic medications.5 As Iran is one of the most important centers of biodiversity in the ancient world, it is estimated that about 22% of the total 8000 plant species can be found in Iran.6,7 In addition, more than 1300 plant species can be found in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari Province, a province located in southwest of Iran; in fact, more than 350 plant species have been identified exclusively in this province which has not been found in other parts of Iran.8,9