Abstract
This descriptive study was aimed at comparing the cost of herbal medicine to replace conventional
medicine for the treatment of five health conditions in a five-year period (2002 - 2006). The study was
performed between May 2007 and August 2008. The study samples comprised 65 health care workers
and 260 clients in regional hospitals and 12 community hospitals in Lampang Province. The research
instruments used consisted of (1) a record of the cost of herbal medicine and conventional medicine treatment
of five health conditions: irritable bowel syndrome, sore throat (non-infectious) constipation,
herpes, and musculoskeletal/joint diseases, (2) a questionaire for herbal medical orders, and (3) a satisfaction
form to record the use of herbal medicine. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; the cost of
herbal medicine replacing conventional medicine was compared by t-test and clients satisfaction analyzed
by chi-square.
The results indicated that the cost of most herbal medicine compared with conventional medicine
for five health-condition treatments in Lampang Province increased during the period studied. The cost
of Turmeric increased from 85,717 baht in 2002 to 551,272 baht in 2006; Andrographis increased from 28,152
baht to 138,681 baht, Senna alata leaves increased from 2,797 baht to 27,104 baht, and Clinacantus nutans
leaves increased from 3,490 baht to 18,101 baht and Zingiber montanum increased from 14,243 baht to
298,446 baht. The comparative cost of herbal medicine during the period 2002-2006 significantly increased
(p < 0.05), except for Zingiber montanum (p = 0.074).
Concerning the health care workers’ perceptions about herbal medicine, we found that the sample
population experienced increases of 75.4 percent in ordering Turmeric, 63.1 percent for Andrographis, 40
percent for Senna alata leaves, 41.5 percent for Clinacantus nutans leaves and 58.5 percent for zingiber
montanum. The main reasons for the decision to order was a perceived drug indication. For the clients’
satisfaction in using herbal medicine as a replacement for conventional medicine, we found that the
clients had experience in using Turmeric (68.5 percent), Andrographis paniculata (70 percent), Candelabra
bush (15.4 percent), Clinacantus nutans (29.6 percent) and Zingiber montanum (69.2 percent). Satisfaction
was highly significant (p < 0.001); the reasons for satisfaction were knowing the indications and having
experience in using the herbals.
Based on our study results, the herbal medicines used were Turmeric, Andrographis, Senna alata
leaves, Clinacantus nutans leaves and Zingiber montanum for increasingly replacing conventional medicine
in the regional hospital and 12 community hospitals in Lampang Province from 2002 to 2006. The
increasing rate resulted from the supportive policy of promoting herbal medicines in the health delivery
system, organizing herbal medicine symposiums, and reminding healthcare workers by displaying
posters on how to use herbal medicines at dispensing units.
