After being abandoned for years, the Lebanese returned to the shops selling medicinal herbs, or what is known as Attar, in search of a missing cure due to the scarcity of medicines and their high prices.

In addition to the fact that herbs are available in the market and their price is lower than the prices of medicines, they are also considered healthy and have no side effects on the human body as they are natural.

This reality is driven by the decline in the purchasing power of the Lebanese people due to the ongoing economic and financial crisis in their country, during which the government reduced its support for importing basic commodities such as fuel and medicines months ago.

The subsidy was aimed at maintaining low prices for these commodities after the depreciation of the lira (the local currency) against the US dollar by 92% over two years, but the reduction of subsidies led to a 12-fold increase in drug prices.

Since late 2019, Lebanon has been afflicted by a severe economic crisis that has led to a decline in foreign currency reserves in the Central Bank, a scarcity of fuel, medicine, and other basic commodities, in addition to the spread of poverty and unemployment.

Most customers buy herbs to treat chest diseases and relieve nervous tension (Anatolia)

growing demand

On the other hand, the rate of demand for medicinal herbs has increased by about 80%, according to Mahmoud Zuhair Al-Maghrabi, owner of a perfume shop in the capital, Beirut.

Al-Maghraby said that he has noticed an increase in the demand for medicinal herbs over the past months, noting that the herbal market has existed for a long time, but it has recently been booming.

In the past years, the consumption of herbs was limited to the elderly, but the high cost of medicines and the loss of a large part of them made them an option for those seeking treatment for some diseases and health conditions, in light of the difficulty of obtaining medicine.

Al-Mughrabi added, "Maybe it is harmful and beneficial, because many people have begun to discover the many benefits of medicinal herbs, after a large part of them were previously ignorant of them."

Among those herbs are what helps to get rid of cough, such as elderberry, thyme, chamomile and hyssop, according to the spokesman.

He said, "These types of herbs are finding great popularity during this period, especially in light of the Corona pandemic and the accompanying health symptoms on the respiratory system."

soothing herbs

And in light of the difficult conditions under which citizens live, the demand is also focused on herbs that are used as calming nerves, such as lemon balm, verbena, anise and lavender, according to Al-Maghrabi.

"Some people ask for herbs that help lose weight," he added.

Lebanon imports about 70% of medicinal herbs from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Iran and India, and there are about 30% that sprout in the country, where they are harvested, dried, and then sold in specialized stores called "Attaras".

Herbs find popularity in Lebanon in light of the Corona pandemic and the accompanying health symptoms (Anatolia)

Pain relief

The increasing demand for herbs is also confirmed by Ahmed Abdel Rahman Al-Sous, one of the owners of perfume shops in Beirut. He told Anadolu Agency that the increase in demand was caused by the high prices of medicines.

According to the sauce, most customers buy herbs to treat chest diseases, stomach and head pain, and to relieve nervous tension.

Among the herbs that are popular are chamomile, sage, violet, and other types of herbs that help expand arteries and prevent blood clots, according to the same spokesperson for Anatolia.

He pointed out that many people rely on information available online in search of the type of herb that suits their health status, pointing out that in all cases, if herbs do not work, they "will not harm."

better than nothing

"If the interest is 10%, it is better than nothing," said Abu Subhi, a sixty-year-old who often resorts to medicinal herbs.

"I buy herbs, then boil them in hot water, and then drink them as a treatment and prevention of many diseases," he told Anadolu Agency.

And he added, "I do not have the ability to buy medicines from pharmacies, so we follow this method," adding, "There is no trick (..) in this poor country is over."

As for Abu Hamad - who suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes - he complains about the high prices of medicines, and states that he prefers to resort to herbs as much as possible, but there is no escape from taking medicine for his condition, according to him.

"We prefer to go back to herbs, especially as they link us to our ancient heritage, as our parents and grandparents used to resort to them to treat many diseases," he says.

The citizen pointed out that he replaced a medicine designated for allergies with a natural herb, after the price of the medicine increased several times.