Abstract Both ‘sign’ and ‘symbol’ are words with a long polysemic history in Western culture. Moreover, the 120-year of modern semiotics movement has failed to provide highly needed definition these most basic terms, thus resulting ambiguity discipline itself. This paper proposes defining ‘sign/symbol’ as ‘a sensuous entity be regarded carrying meaning’. Furthermore, terminological chaos that a...

PURPOSE To study the prevalence of the usage of herbal medicines among cancer patients. METHODS This study was carried out between October 1, 2009 and May 31, 2011, by using face-to-face interviews with cancer patients attending oncology departments (clinics and outpatient clinics, chemotherapy units). A special questionnaire was filled in during the interviews. RESULTS Of the patients 68.2...

The number of patients seeking alternate and herbal therapy is growing exponentially. Herbal medicines are the synthesis of therapeutic experiences of generations of practicing physicians of indigenous systems of medicine for over hundreds of years. Herbal medicines are now in great demand in the developing world for primary health care not because they are inexpensive but also for better cultu...