International Society For Ethnopharmacology

Ethnopharmacology is the study of substances, principally plants, used as medicine by ethnic and cultural communities. The term is also often defined as the relationship between the ethnic or racial identity of an individual and the way in which his or her body processes medications. In other words, it looks at how people’s culture and their beliefs about health issues, as well as the genetic and physiological characteristics of their ethnic group, affect the impact and effectiveness of the medications they use. It also studies how cultural attitudes and racial bias may influence the ways in which medications are prescribed. For example, many scientists have proven that certain drugs and medications may affect and be metabolized differently by a variety of ethnic or racial groups.

The ...