UPPER DIR: The researchers highlighted the effectiveness of herbal medicines during a national conference here, saying they successfully treat cancer, diabetes, malaria, skin problems, blood pressure and abdominal diseases.

The three-day event on the importance and use of ‘phytomedicine’ was held at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, here on Thursday.

It was jointly organised by the pharmacy departments of SBBU and Malakand University, where researchers, scholars and students from various universities of the country were in attendance.

The researchers read papers on phytomedicine and said local medicines made from local herbs were very effective in treating various diseases including cancer, sugar, blood pressure, abdominal diseases, skin and malaria, but the locals were not aware of it.

They said the people should use herbal medicines as they didn’t have side effects unlike allopathic drugs.

The researchers said Upper Dir was rich in hers used in medicines.

They asked pharmacy students and people to know about such herbs and medicines.

SBBU vice-chancellor Dr Rehmat Alisaid the conference was organised to bring the students of different universities and researchers closer.

He said there were many herbs, whose benefits for healthcare had yet to be explored.

The VC said he hoped that the university students had learned a lot from researchers about medicinal plants and would use it for the benefit of patients.

Pharmacy students of various universities declared the event fruitful saying they have seen herbs, which are found in Upper Dir only.

Later, shields were distributed to participants.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2018