Table 1.

Traditional vs. Scientific knowledge

Traditional Use of Herbs	Scientific Use
• Every people use typical plants or parts of these, often with different indications, as juices, decoction or pills.	• Use of proper extractive and pharmaceuticals preparation of plants.
• Generally are used mixtures of many plants (often more than 10 together!), thought synergic. Products often do not contain any reference to the chemical constituents nor extraction technique.	• Generally used purified and standardized in the chemical constituents that have a pharmacological activity, and are used as symptomatic, for prevention or treatment.
• Generally believed safe and without any adverse reaction.	• Possible side effects, contraindications, drugs interactions, etc.
• Pathogenesis of illnesses and therapy are often based on philosophic, religious and socio-cultural conception, and are referred to the character and emotions of a patient (holism).	• Diagnostic and therapeutic methodology follows the rules of mainstream medicine, because the reference for clinical administration is only the pharmacological activity based on conventional laboratory techniques and clinical trials.