Vietnam is recognized as one of the 16 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world , with a treasure trove of invaluable medicinal plant resources, with over 5,000 species of plants and fungi having medicinal uses. However, an alarming reality is that the domestic pharmaceutical industry is still heavily dependent on imported raw materials.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam ( Ministry of Health ) said that nearly 90% of Vietnam's demand for medicinal materials must be imported, mostly from the informal market, with unknown origin and quality. The context of global epidemics and supply chain disruptions in recent years has clearly shown the risks of this dependence. The issue of medical autonomy and national health security has become more urgent than ever.
In this situation, the strategy of localizing medicinal herbs, based on Vietnam’s own resources and knowledge, is identified as an inevitable solution. This is not a step back to the past, but a smart, scientific solution combining the foundation of traditional medicine and the tools of modern medicine.
Traditional medicine is the solid foundation of the indigenization strategy.
Traditional Medicine: A Solid Foundation of an Indigenization Strategy
To implement localization, Vietnam has advantages that not many countries have. Firstly, our country has indigenous resources. Thousands of medicinal plant species distributed throughout the regions are invaluable genetic resources and raw materials on the spot.
Second, and more importantly, our country has indigenous medical knowledge. Natural resources will remain just plants without the knowledge to use them. Vietnam is fortunate to possess a long-standing traditional medicine, especially the invaluable treasure of experience of 54 ethnic groups. This is knowledge that has been verified through thousands of years of clinical practice.
The Red Dao people in Sa Pa and Ta Phin know exactly how to combine dozens of types of leaves to create a medicinal bath to restore health for women after giving birth. The H'Mong people in the rocky mountains of Ha Giang and Lai Chau know how to use special tree roots to treat broken bones. The Thai and Ede people in the Northwest and Central Highlands have tonics and vitality-enhancing remedies from plants in the old forest.
It is this traditional medicine foundation that helps to implement localization right at the grassroots level of health care. In remote areas, the use of folk methods (such as steaming, bathing with leaves, traditional medicine) to treat common diseases such as flu, cough, diarrhea, aches and pains... is extremely effective. This is not only consistent with the culture and beliefs of the community but also helps to reduce treatment costs and reduce the burden on upper-level hospitals in a sustainable way.
Traditional medicine can support modern medicine to effectively treat some symptoms of cancer. Illustration photo.
Modern medicine – A tool to elevate and standardize Vietnamese medicinal herbs
Traditional medicine provides experience and guidance, but modern medicine provides the tools to standardize and elevate. This is the second, key part of the localization strategy.
Firstly, modern medicine provides standards for growing areas. For successful and sustainable localization, we cannot rely on natural exploitation, which is depleting biodiversity. Modern medicine requires the development of specialized, large-scale growing areas that meet international GACP-WHO standards (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices for Medicinal Plants). This standard ensures that medicinal plants have stable medicinal properties, high quality, safety, and a sustainable supply. Organic cinnamon growing models in Lao Cai or Ngoc Linh ginseng in Quang Ngai (formerly Kon Tum) are typical examples of this direction.
Second, modern medicine helps to scientificize traditional medicine. This is the smartest combination. Modern medicine uses modern pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical trial research tools to prove and explain the mechanism of action of traditional medicine. Science has proven that the active ingredients Saponin in Gynostemma pentaphyllum (a medicine of the H'Mong people) really helps to lower blood fat. Science also helps to extract valuable active ingredients in Red Dao bath leaves to create convenient industrial products that can be widely used.
Third, modern medicine helps integrate into the regular treatment regimen. Successful localization is when traditional medicine products (GACP standardized, scientifically proven) are used in parallel, combined with Western medicine in treatment regimens at the hospital. Dr. Nguyen Quang Vinh (Central Hospital of Traditional Medicine) said that traditional medicine has limitations in diagnosing, detecting and curing cancer, but can support modern medicine to contribute to the effective treatment of some symptoms in cancer, especially in palliative care for patients with late-stage cancer and reducing the harmful effects of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, effectively treating complications during and after cancer treatment with radiation or chemicals, improving the health of patients during or after cancer treatment. For example, patients with mucositis causing bleeding from the oral mucosa, pharynx to the rectum, bladder; bone and joint pain, numbness in the limbs...
According to the Department of Traditional Medicine, the Medicinal herbs localization is not a choice between traditional medicine or modern medicine, but a combination of both. Traditional medicine provides orientation and thousands of years of experience; modern medicine provides tools for standardization and verification. This path not only helps Vietnam to be self-sufficient in medicinal herbs supply, reduce medical examination and treatment costs, but also creates an indigenous medicinal herbs industry with high economic value, while preserving ethnic knowledge and developing the economy of ethnic minority areas.
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