Table 4 Sources, knowledge and reasons for using or not using medicinal plants
Item | Percent |
|---|---|
Sources from where patients obtained their medicinal plants | |
 Wild life | 47.9 |
 Herbalists | 20.5 |
 Friends | 12.3 |
 Pharmacists | 1.4 |
 Undeclared | 17.8 |
Sources from where patients obtained knowledge about medicinal plants | |
 Family friend | 8.33 |
 Other patients | 31.5 |
 Herbalist | 25.9 |
 Public media | 16.7 |
 Pharmacists | 0.93 |
 Doctors | 1.85 |
 Internet | 14.8 |
Reason reported by patients for using medicinal plants | |
 Medicinal plants enhance my immune system | 16.7 |
 I was advised to use medicinal plants | 15.8 |
 Medicinal plants are available and affordable | 5 |
 Using medicinal plants is safe | 27.5 |
 Medicinal plants are effective | 11.7 |
 I have sufficient experience and information about medicinal plants | 6.67 |
 Medicinal plants improve conventional therapy and reduce their side effects | 16.7 |
Reason reported by patients for not using medicinal plants | |
 I don’t have enough information on medicinal plants | 28 |
 I am not convinced that medicinal plants are better than conventional therapies | 16 |
 Medicinal plants might have serious side effects | 56 |