The Efficacy of Indigenous Herbal Remedies in Treating Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Indigenous herbal remedies have been utilized for millennia across diverse cultures as primary therapeutic interventions for various chronic diseases. Despite their widespread traditional use, the scientific validation of these remedies through rigorous clinical evaluation remains limited and fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the efficacy of indigenous herbal remedies in treating chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, inflammatory conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and traditional medicine repositories, yielding 147 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The analysis reveals that several indigenous herbal preparations demonstrate statistically significant therapeutic effects comparable to conventional pharmacological interventions, particularly in glycemic control, lipid profile management, and inflammatory marker reduction. However, considerable heterogeneity exists in study methodologies, standardization protocols, and outcome measures. The findings suggest that indigenous herbal remedies possess substantial therapeutic potential that warrants further investigation through well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized preparations and clearly defined bioactive constituents. This review provides evidence-based insights for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers regarding the integration of traditional herbal medicine into contemporary healthcare systems while highlighting critical gaps that require systematic investigation.