Foreword
Dear Readers,
Since the era of Hippocrates, humans have utilized plants and chemical compounds for medicinal purposes. However, in the beginning, these practices were largely based on experience, tradition, and speculation, without a strong scientific foundation.
A major shift occurred in 1897 when Felix Hoffmann successfully synthesized Aspirin scientifically. Since then, medicine using chemical substances based on systematic research, clinical trials, and scientific proof has developed rapidly.
This raises a fundamental question: why aren't herbal medicines developed and researched using the same scientific approach as chemical drugs? This realization is what prompted us to take a concrete step forward.
In 2002, we conducted preclinical trials, including toxicity and efficacy tests, on our herbal product, Tolak Angin, which was then followed by a clinical trial approach in the form of benefit testing. The results provided us with the confidence that the safety and efficacy of herbal medicine can be scientifically proven and medically accounted for.
The results of the tests on Tolak Anginmentioned above convinced us to continue the same efforts for several of our other products. Our commitment is to provide herbal products that are not only based on tradition but also based on evidence.
We also realize that there have actually been many studies on plants published in reputable international scientific journals regarding their toxicity, effectiveness, and mechanisms of action. Unfortunately, these studies have not been well-integrated, making them difficult for the general public to understand and preventing them from being optimally utilized to help treat various health problems.
Therefore, the Sido Muncul research team, in collaboration with academics, conducted systematic research based on literature reviews. We have compiled the results into the Sido HerbalPedia compendium, as an effort to gather scientific knowledge regarding Indonesian herbal plants into a single, unified entity.
We hope this platform can help the public understand the role of herbal medicine more scientifically, understand the roots of their health conditions, and realize that every individual has the right to live a healthy life.
In closing, we hope this effort can be a real contribution to improving the quality of public health, so that a healthier and happier life can be realized for more people.
Warm Regards,
IRWAN HIDAYAT