A survey study to evaluate the opinions and knowledge levels of pharmacists and herbalists on herbal products: The example of Kayseri province, Türkiye

This study evaluated the knowledge level and opinions of 35 pharmacists and 14 herbalists operating in Kayseri province of Türkiye about the use of plants and herbal products through a face-to-face survey within the scope of a cross-sectional field study. Our findings showed that pharmacists were well educated and had high knowledge about herbal products, while herbalists did not have sufficient education in this area. It was determined that both groups’ demand for herbal products increased during the pandemic period and that they used Sambucus nigra (black elderberry), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort), and Nigella sativa (black cumin) the most. Participants primarily preferred these products for strengthening the immune system and treating colds. According to the results, pharmacists recommended plants that were more compatible with the literature compared to herbalists. The results obtained revealed that pharmacies should be the primary choice for the safe use of herbal products and that herbalist sales should be supervised by the authorities; it was also emphasized that public awareness and comprehensive research should be conducted at the regional level.