Pharmacovigilance of Herbal and Traditional Medicine

Herbal and traditional medicines have long been integral to healthcare systems worldwide, offering natural alternatives for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. As interest in alternative medicine rises, these remedies are increasingly used as substitutes or complements to synthetic drugs. While herbal products are often perceived as safe due to their natural origin, growing evidence suggests they are not without risks, including adverse drug reactions (ADRs), toxicity, and herb-drug interactions. Unlike conventional pharmaceuticals, herbal medicines frequently lack proper standardization, scientific validation, and rigorous safety assessment. This presents a major challenge for their integration into existing pharmacovigilance systems, which are largely designed for synthetic drugs. The chemical complexity, variability in herbal formulations, and inadequate regulatory oversight further complicate safety monitoring. This review discusses the importance of pharmacovigilance in monitoring the safety of herbal and traditional medicines, highlights reported adverse effects, and emphasizes the need for standardized practices, scientific evaluation, and global collaboration. Strengthening pharmacovigilance systems tailored to herbal products is essential for ensuring their safe and effective use in modern healthcare.