Table 6 Prevalence of herbal medicine use among pharmacy professionals in Asmara, Eritrea, 2021 (N = 50)

Have you ever used herbal medicines for self-treatment?

Yes

39

78

No

8

16

I don’t remember

3

6

Have you ever used herbal medicines for minor ailments (common cold, scratches, tonsillitis...etc)?

Yes

41

82

No

8

16

I don’t remember

1

2

Have you ever used herbal medicines to relieve some diseases on the recommendation of other conventional health professionals, herbalists or layman?

Yes

20

40

No

30

60

Do you have any chronic diseases?

Yes

10

20

No

40

80

Do you use herbal medicines to manage your chronic diseases?

Often

4

8

Sometimes

3

6

Never

3

6

Do you use herbal medicines to relieve serious diseases?

Often

2

4

Sometimes

2

4

Rarely

5

10

Never

41

82

Do you use herbal medicines to improve your quality of health?

Always

4

8

Often

4

8

Sometimes

16

32

Rarely

8

16

Never

18

36

Do you recommend consumers to use herbal medicines for self-treatment?

Always

1

2

Often

7

14

Sometimes

16

32

Rarely

9

18

Never

17

34

Do you seek scientific references with regard to herbal medicines before use or before making recommendation?

Always

10

20

Often

6

12

Sometimes

10

20

Rarely

9

18

Never

15

30