Sustainability, Plant Sourcing and Commercialization of Traditional Medicine

Why this matters

Traditional medicine depends on plants, and sometimes on animals and minerals. When demand grows faster than supply, wild populations can shrink, the people who collect them can lose income, and products can become harder to trust. This page covers two linked topics: where plant materials come from, and what happens when traditional knowledge becomes a commercial product. Detailed pages on wildcrafting and wild harvest, endangered medicinal plants and fair trade and ethical sourcing go further.

Plant sourcing and conservation

The scale of the problem. TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, reports that over 20 percent of plant species used globally for medicinal and aromatic purposes are considered threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List, mainly from a combination of overharvesting and habitat loss. [1] The same source says these ingredients are difficult to trace back to the source along complex supply chains, and that public understanding of what "wild" ingredients involve is very low. [1] The FairWild Foundation states that 60 to 90 percent of medicinal and aromatic plants in trade are wild collected, citing a 2022 report. [2]

An Indian example. IUCN says India is a hub of the wild-collected plant medicine industry in Asia, and key species have declined from over-collection. [3] Researchers examined trade in seven species and found that rules on collection and trade exist but implementation is frequently poor. [3] The same report notes that cultivation is routinely promoted as the answer to dwindling supplies, and that collection and processing contribute at least 35 million workdays a year. [3]

A North American example. United Plant Savers, a US non-profit, describes goldenseal and American ginseng as two of the most sought-after, and most vulnerable, medicinal plants in North America. [4]

Sustainable use is possible. TRAFFIC reports that over 15,000 households depend on trade in wild-harvested jatamansi (Nardostachys grandiflora) in Nepal, and that a project there applies FairWild, a voluntary market-based standard. [1] The WHO also publishes guidelines on good agricultural and collection practices for medicinal plants (2003). [5] Indigenous peoples' right to conserve their vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals is stated in Article 24 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. [6]

What this means for you. A label such as "wild-crafted" does not guarantee sustainability. If sourcing matters to you, look for the plant's Latin name, country of origin, whether it is cultivated or wild-collected, and any independent standard. This site does not rank brands. See reading supplement labels and herb quality and labels.

Commercialization and benefit sharing

When a traditional remedy becomes a product, the people who hold the knowledge may or may not share in the benefits. Documented examples:

• Pelargonium (southern Africa). A review traces how a traditional medicine became a commercial phytomedicine in Europe and names innovative marketing, botanical and chemical identity checks and convincing proof of concept among the elements of its success. [7]
• Echinacea (North America). NCCIH says echinacea products are primarily promoted as a dietary supplement for the common cold and other respiratory infections. [8]
• Rules are catching up. The Nagoya Protocol was adopted in 2010 and entered into force in 2014; it concerns fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. [9] A 2024 WIPO treaty will require patent applicants to disclose the country of origin of genetic resources, or the Indigenous Peoples or local community providing associated traditional knowledge, once it comes into force after 15 ratifications and accessions. Patent offices have no obligation to verify the disclosure. [10] For the full picture see traditional knowledge protection and biopiracy.

WHO's traditional medicine strategy recognizes the importance of protecting traditional knowledge and promoting responsible use of natural resources. [11] Its Global Traditional Medicine Centre also works on equitable benefit-sharing and protection of Indigenous intellectual property. [12]

Misrepresentation and what to watch for

• "Traditional" is not a quality mark. In the EU, a traditional registration requires long use and plausible efficacy, not clinical trials. [13] In the US, FDA says it is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. [14]
• Contents may differ from the label. Aristolochic acid kidney disease followed slimming pills containing a toxic herb, and frequent substitution of botanicals is a documented risk. [15] NCCIH says some Ayurvedic preparations may contain lead, mercury or arsenic in amounts that can be toxic. [16]
• Borrowed cultural language. Words like "sacred" or the name of a people on a package do not show that the community took part or benefits. Ask who made the product and whether knowledge holders were involved. See Indigenous and community traditions.

Who should talk to a clinician first

Sustainability is about plants and communities. It does not change medical safety. For symptoms, prescribed medicines, pregnancy or children, ask a clinician or pharmacist before using any herbal product, and tell all your providers what you use. [17] See how supplements are regulated and traditional medicine safety and clinical care.