Taiz, Yemen – Jaleelah Abdul Hameed, a woman in her 50s, grew up in a village 85km (53 miles) from Taiz city. She recalls how her ancestors relied on herbal remedies to manage various illnesses, though her own mother died in childhood due to inadequate healthcare access.
“Herbal medicine was our ancestors’ only option because modern healthcare didn’t exist then. It was available to everyone, rich or poor,” Jaleelah told Al Jazeera.
Recently, Jaleelah began experiencing chest pains, but doctors misdiagnosed her condition, initially suggesting a colon ailment. She took the prescribed medication for months until she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, where tests revealed liver cancer.
“The doctors who failed to diagnose me couldn’t offer effective treatment for my liver cancer,” she told Al Jazeera. “I took their medicine for four months, but it did nothing.”
With cancer care extremely limited in Yemen, she was advised to seek treatment overseas. Unable to afford international travel—and after local health stores promoted herbal alternatives—she turned to traditional remedies.
At an herbal medicine center, she was given a blend of ground leaves and honey, though the ingredients remained unclear.
“Success stories I’d heard convinced me to try it. I used the remedies for six months, but during that time, my health seriously declined,” she said.
Two months ago, Jaleelah returned to the hospital in critical condition. Her doctor was alarmed to learn she had stopped chemotherapy in favor of herbal treatments.
“It was my mistake from the start. I knew deep down herbal remedies couldn’t cure something like cancer, but I chose wrongly,” Jaleelah admitted. “I’m back on treatment now, but in much worse shape.”
Medicine or Business?
More than 20 million Yemenis lack access to basic medical care due to years of conflict, funding shortages, and the collapse of the healthcare system, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Over half of the country’s health facilities are non-functional, crippling responses to outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria. Those unable to travel abroad for treatment increasingly rely on traditional remedies.
Raqeeb Sultan, 48, had endured severe stomach pain, especially after eating fatty foods. Several doctors diagnosed him with Helicobacter pylori, but after eight months of medication, the pain persisted.
Following a friend’s advice, Sultan tried herbal medicine. “I visited a honey shop that sells herbal remedies. The practitioner gave me plant leaves mixed with honey and told me to avoid fatty foods,” he told Al Jazeera.
After two months, Sultan felt significantly better, and his latest tests showed no trace of H. pylori.
“It was my first time trying herbal medicine, but it worked for me,” he said. “If the pain returns, I’ll definitely use it again.”
Herbal practitioners often claim they can treat virtually any illness, but medical professionals strongly challenge these assertions. Many patients who rely on herbal treatments end up back in hospitals—sometimes in worse condition—due to delayed care or abandoning prescribed medications.
Dr. Adel, an internal medicine specialist who requested anonymity to avoid disputes with herbal practitioners, questioned Sultan’s recovery.
“H. pylori symptoms often fluctuate, and test results vary. Only qualified doctors can properly diagnose and treat the infection,” he said.
Herbal practitioners typically lack formal medical training and depend on anecdotal knowledge and untested methods, according to Dr. Adel. Temporary improvements or brief remission are frequently used to promote their practices.
“We live in the 21st century, yet people are choosing herbal practitioners over hospitals. Even with Yemen’s healthcare struggles, standard medical care is still far safer and more effective,” he added.
Unregulated Alternative Medicine
Herbal medicine shops are widespread across Yemen. For many honey vendors, herbal remedies have become a profitable business.
Most practitioners claim to cure everything from minor headaches to cancer and chronic diseases. Some even use social media influencers to promote their products.
Many sellers base their practice on religious traditions, citing honey as a healing agent mentioned in the Quran and referencing Prophetic teachings about specific plants.
Ali, a herbal practitioner in Taiz who requested anonymity, said he trained with experts in Hodeidah before relocating his practice seven years ago.
“Herbal medicine is a science. We don’t inherit it passively—we learn from experienced practitioners,” he told Al Jazeera. “It’s becoming more popular because patients see real results. That proves its effectiveness.”
![A mixture of ground leaves, oil, and honey prescribed as a remedy by a practitioner of herbal medicine [Al Jazeera]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==)
While acknowledging controversy around herbal medicine, Ali accused some doctors of spreading misinformation about its benefits.
“No one can deny the facts. I’m happiest when patients recover thanks to my remedies,” he said. “Unfortunately, some doctors are upset when that happens.”
Ali believes collaboration between herbal practitioners and physicians is essential. He emphasized that he always recommends hospital visits first to confirm diagnoses before offering treatment.
“I always advise my patients to get checked at a hospital before I prescribe anything,” Ali said.
Despite operating without official permits or regulatory oversight, Ali insists such licenses aren’t necessary since he only sells natural herbs.
A source at Taiz’s health office told Al Jazeera that complaints against herbal shops are typically handled by legal authorities, as these establishments don’t provide formal healthcare and fall outside the health department’s jurisdiction.
“Some herbal shops also offer Quranic recitations or even sorcery. Prosecutors have shut several down,” the official said, requesting anonymity.
Jaleelah, still battling cancer, emphasized the urgent need for oversight.
“These centers and shops are interacting directly with sick people. If they’re deceiving patients, authorities must shut them down,” she said.
“We shouldn’t be victimized twice—first by lacking proper healthcare, and then again by being cheated by herbal medicine providers.”
