Over the past decade, the interest and use of herbal, complementary and alternative medicines has grown significantly. Indeed, according to a 2010 survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), “nearly 40 percent” of adult Americans have used “some form of complementary and alternative medicine” (Ventola, 2010). Complementary and alternative medicine, which the National Institute of Health (NIH) defines as the “group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not considered to be part of conventional medicine” includes a wide-range of dietary supplements and medicines, including but not limited to herbal products (Ventola, 2010). Similarly, Chinese traditional medicine, which can be classified as a separate and unique complementary and alternative medicine, has a history of use for over 2,000 years and is as commonly used in China, Asian and Asian communities throughout the world as conventional medicine (NCCIH, 2013). In other words, the market for herbal, complementary and alternative medicines is large and growing larger as more of the nation and the world develop an understanding of the benefits that can be realized through its use independently or in conjunction with more conventional medicines.
Consequently, there are significant opportunities for an herbal, complementary and alternative medicine pharmacy to develop a thriving business that helps resolve the community’s health care and medical related issues. First, as suggested above, an herbal, complementary and alternative medicine pharmacy can serve as a means to supply the growing desire among the population for herbal, complementary and alternative products. Similarly, such a pharmacy focused on traditional Chinese medicine, could help serve not only a local Chinese/Asian community that believes or feels more trust in traditional methods but also Chinese/Asian tourists, visitors, international students and temporary workers. Indeed, it is more likely that such communities would more likely first approach an herbal, complementary and alternative pharmacy rather than a conventional pharmacy based on the fact that they would have a longer experience or a better understanding of the medicines. In addition, such a pharmacy would also be able to attract all other communities and customers that are interested in herbal, complementary and alternative medicines. If four in 10 adults admit to using complementary and alternative medicines, such as pharmacy is sure to have a substantial customer base.
Second, an herbal, complementary and alternative medicine pharmacy has the additional opportunity to serve as an information resource and facilitate the continuing spread in usage of herbal, complementary and alternative medicine. Despite, the growing popularity of herbal, complementary and alternative medicine; it still remains a mystery to many and a means to defraud the public by unscrupulous parties. An herbal, complementary and alternative pharmacy can help change these situations by providing reliable information about the medicines, impartial advices as to what medicines are the most useful for a customer’s condition, and ethical medical practices that help the public become more accustomed and relaxed in the use of herbal, complementary and alternative medicines. In addition, such pharmacies can point out illegitimate uses of such medicines, as well as unscrupulous practitioners to the public. They can also serve as a means of verifying the quality of the ingredients of a particular medicine.
In conclusion, the rapid rise in popularity of herbal, complementary and alternative medicines along with the lack of access or understanding of such medicines ensures a significant and growing role for an herbal, complementary and alternative pharmacy. Such pharmacies will not only have the opportunity to provide legitimate, safe and quality products to the public but also serve to spread the benefits of such medicines to the public as well as point out when and who is using it illegitimately.
References
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2013, Oct.). Traditional Chinese medicine: In depth. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm
Ventola, C.L. (2010, Aug.). Current issues regarding complementary and alternative medicine in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2935644/
