Objectives To determine the prevalence, patterns and correlates of medicinal herb use in a rural Iranian population and to evaluate demographic and clinical predictors using adjusted regression models. Design Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Fasa Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran Cohort Study.
Primary outcome measures Prevalence of self-reported medicinal herb use during the past year and its associations with demographic variables and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Results Overall, 84.7% of participants (95% CI 83.9% to 85.5%) reported herb use.
In multivariable logistic regression, higher educational attainment was positively associated with herb use (university education vs. illiterate: adjusted OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.88).
No significant adjusted associations were observed between herb use and major NCDs including diabetes, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease or depression. The most frequently used herbs were Zataria multiflora , Echium amoenum and Matricaria chamomilla , most commonly for anxiety/neurasthenia (81.6%), gastric pain (59.6%) and common cold (49.8%).
Conclusions Medicinal herb use is highly prevalent among adults in southern Iran. Educational level, but not chronic disease status, was associated with herb use.
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 07 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Use of medicinal herbs in an Iranian population: cross-sectional findings from the Fasa PERSIAN Cohort Study.
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