: Traditional Islamic Medicine (TIM) is a diverse of health practice used by patients as an orientation to their own values and beliefs towards good health which might affect the conventional cancer therapy. In this study we aim to determine the utilization of TIM among adult oncology patients in Saudi Arabia and to evaluate the correlations between the variants and each type of TIM used. Material and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted. Questionnaires were completed by patients eligible for treatment with chemotherapy. Patients diagnosed with cancer were invited to participate in the study after signing a consent form. The questionnaire is divided into three parts: socio-demographic data, clinical data and TIM utilization data. Results: We collected a total of 104 questionnaires. The mean age of the patients enrolled in the study was 52.5 years. The median age was 45 years. Out of 104 patients 97.1% used TIM. The remedies used with the highest percentage were honey (57.7%), followed by Zamzam water (26%), and followed by Nigella and Fenugreek (25% each). Majority of the patients (91%) used the remedies for religious nature explained by them as ‘’following Quran and Al Sunnah Al Nabawiah for our Prophet Mohamed’’. Conclusions: TIM usage is highly prevalent among Saudi cancer patients. It indicates the strong influence of religion on people’s behavior mainly those diagnosed with cancer. TIM provides a remarkable source of new drug development. They might possess different therapeutic activities. These pharmacological properties need to be further studied on a larger scale.
Source: EC PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
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