To Use or Not to Use: An Exploratory Study on Herbal Supplement Use in the Philippines

Abstract

This is an exploratory study on herbal supplement use in the Philippines. This study aims to identify the types of herbal supplements being used, to know the concepts and beliefs about herbal supplements, to determine the reasons and factors for herbal supplement use, and to find out the effects of herbal supplement use on its users. This study used qualitative research technique through documents' review, participant observation, interviews of key experts, and interviews of male and female herbal supplement users, 22 years of age and above, living in Metro-Manila. Nutritional, dietary, and natural health care herbal supplements are the types of herbal supplements that are widely used by the Filipinos. The reasons for using such products were either as primary solution to a disease, or as replacement for a regular drug, and or as supplement to maintenance drugs. Based from the study, the factors that influenced herbal supplement use are the users characteristics, which include the users’ curiosity, perceived need, and perceived effectiveness, the social influences through testimonies of relatives and friends, the communication channels through television and print advertisements, and the economic and politics in health such as the cheaper price of herbal supplements compared with regular drugs and the policies pertaining to the packaging and sale of herbal supplements. Results showed that the users believe that the herbal supplement products are natural, effective, and have no side effects. They find its immediate and multiple effects such as in curing cough and urinary tract infection, and lowering the blood and cholesterol level as positive effects. On the other hand, its poor taste and the proliferation of the fake version of the products were found to be its downsides. The prices of the products were viewed by the majority as affordable. Furthermore, the findings revealed that both herbal supplements and regular drugs were perceived to produce a placebo effect. Thus, even though herbal supplement products cannot claim actual therapeutic properties, the users will continue to use herbal supplements due to the positive results they experienced.