Evaluation of therapeutic strategies of neonatal jaundice by medicinal herbalists of Mazandaran province: a descriptive cross sectional study

Background: Neonatal jaundice is as a disease caused by the abnormality of bilirubin metabolism that tendency of people to traditional medicine is very high for the treatment. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic strategies, especially herbal treatments, in the neonatal jaundice, for mother and infant, based on verbally traditional medicine recommended by medicinal herbalists in Mazandaran province. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on all medicinal herbalists in Mazandaran province in 1394 and a snowball questionnaire was used for sampling. Data on demographic characteristics and treat neonatal jaundice using natural products were collected by direct method and the results were analyzed. Results: In this study, 12 medicinal plants for the baby and 49 herbal preparations for the mother were recommended. Moreover, based on recommendation of eighty-nine (98.9%) of the medicinal herbalists, Cotoneaster discolor (shir-e-khesht) was first choice of herbal medicine for prescribing to mother and baby. Conclusion: As based on this study, the medicinal plants such as: Cotoneaster discolor, Descurainia sophia, Cichorium intybus, and Alhagi maurorum are used for neonatal jaundice as the main herbal remedies in Mazandaran province. However, this study is the first step in identifying and developing new drugs to treat neonatal jaundice, and requires additional pharmacological studies, pharmacology, toxicology, animal studies, and in particular different clinical phases to assess the exact effects of these drugs.