Exploring the Potential of Herbal Remedies in Indonesia: Insights From the Wellness Index in the Jamu Registry Database

Abstract

IntroductionIn order to assess the effectiveness of herbal treatments, we examined Wellness Index (WI) scores to gain a better understanding of how herbal interventions influence overall well-being. MethodsData were obtained from the Jamu Registry from 2014 to 2018. The improvement in the patient’s health status was evaluated by quantifying the WI score through the utilisation of the WI tool, which was developed by the NIHRD in 2012. This tool is a modification of the WHO’s quality of life short form-36. ResultsFrom the dataset, a total of 1467 patients were analysed. The majority of these patients were diagnosed for hypertension (18%), followed by diabetes mellitus (15.3%), and dyspepsia (12.7%). Among all cases, 65.7% patients were treated with herbal medicine. In general, there was a notable improvement in the WI score during subsequent follow-up visits. Notably, upon closer examination, patients treated with a combination of conventional and herbal therapies did not exhibit a significant improvement in their wellness (QoL) index when compared to those receiving herbal therapy alone. ConclusionsOur study indicates that herbal medicine may have a positive impact on the improvement of patients’ quality of life. However, it is essential to highlight that the combination of herbal remedies with conventional medicines should be considered with caution due to the potential for herb-drug interactions.