1. Introduction

Chronic illnesses, also known as non-communicable diseases, account for around 74% of all deaths globally with most of these premature deaths (86%) occurring in low- and middle-income countries as per the recent report of the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. According to the Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network, 42 million people died of chronic illnesses including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes in 2019 [2]. Rapid unplanned urbanisation, unhealthy lifestyles and the ageing population are some of the key drivers of chronic diseases [1]. Socioeconomic factors such as poverty and rapid increase in healthcare costs, especially in low-income countries also contribute significantly to the global burden of chronic diseases [1]. Therefore, low-cost, and effective intervention strategies are vital for preventing and managing chronic illnesses.

Traditional medicine has been an integral part of people’s health and well-being across the world for centuries due to its relative affordability and easy availability. It has been extensively used to treat chronic illnesses as well as to maintain well-being both as stand-alone and complementary therapies to Western medicine. According to the WHO, 88% of all countries use some form of traditional medicine and 40% of pharmaceutical drugs such as aspirin and artemisinin were initially derived from traditional medicinal plants [3].