Folk Medicinal Practices and Plant-Based Remedies: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Using medicinal plants extensively to prevent and treat a variety of human problems, folk medicine is one of the oldest types of healthcare. Through oral traditions, indigenous and rural groups have retained important ethnobotanical knowledge for millennia, greatly advancing primary healthcare and the identification of bioactive substances for contemporary medicine. With an emphasis on the variety of medicinal plant species, traditional preparation and administration techniques, ethnopharmacological significance, and their scientific validation through phytochemical and pharmacological studies, this thorough review summarizes the most recent research on traditional medicine and plant-based remedies. The paper also emphasizes how medicinal plants can be used to treat chronic ailments such as inflammatory problems, metabolic abnormalities, and infectious infections.It also covers the significance of recording indigenous knowledge, protecting the biodiversity of medicinal plants, and encouraging the sustainable use of plant resources in the face of climate change, habitat loss, and fast urbanization. Additionally, the review identifies future research prospects for integrating ethnobotanical knowledge with contemporary healthcare systems while examining the difficulties related to standardization, quality control, safety, and clinical validation of traditional herbal medications. Overall, this review highlights the ongoing value of folk medicinal practices as a source of therapeutic agents, cultural heritage, and sustainable healthcare solutions. It also emphasizes the necessity of interdisciplinary research, evidence-based validation, and conservation strategies to guarantee their long-term use and preservation.