Ethnopharmacological survey of herbs used for the treatment of voice disorders from the West Bank area of Palestine

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been integral to traditional healing practices, and in recent times, reliance on herbal remedies has grown globally, involving the use of natural products and active compounds. This study focuses on gathering insights from herbal medicine practitioners regarding plants employed in treating voice disorders in the West Bank region of Palestine. Employing a semi-structured questionnaire, data was collected between March and June 2023 from 100 herbal medicine practitioners, unveiling information on 20 herbs for voice disorder treatment, including Latin, English, and Arabic names, parts used, administration methods, and preparation techniques. Anthemis cotula, Pimpinella anisum, Zingiber officinale, and Mentha spicata emerged as the most cited herbs, with fidelity levels of 96%, 88%, 88%, and 76%, respectively. Predominantly, leaves and fruits were the utilized plant parts, and Lamiaceae and Apiaceae stood out as the most frequently employed herb families. This pioneering investigation represents the first comprehensive dataset on herbs for treating voice disorders globally. Future endeavors should delve into in vitro and in vivo studies to corroborate the effects of the prominently cited plants on voice disorders.