Investigating the distribution and supply of medicinal plants and people's attitude towards their consumption in an arid and semi-arid ecosystem (A case study: Torbat Jam)

Razavi Khorasan provinces one of the most important habitats of medicinal plants in the country. This has caused their use to play an important role in the medicinal plant consumption culture of the people of the region. The purpose of this study was to investigate how people consume and favor of medicinal plants and to study the distribution and supply of medicinal plants by sellers in the city of Torbat Jam. This research was conducted as a survey in 14 qualified apothecaries in Torbat Jam. Relevant information such as the social and economic status of the sellers as well as the characteristics of the most important plants in the apothecaries were obtained through a questionnaire from the sellers of the apothecaries. Results showed that only 15% of medicinal plant products are collected by the people themselves from nature and rangelands, and the rest are bought from general stores and other people. Also, the study of social and personal indicators of the Sellers showed that only 21% of people have education related to medicinal plants and 35% have obtained their drug information through study. Medicinal plants such as borago, thyme, cinnamon and a combination of several plants are the best-selling medicinal plants offered in apothecaries of Torbat Jam city. The most common reasons for referring to apothecary were gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems and neurological diseases and it is recommended to plan the cultivation of medicinal plants as well as training courses for sellers in this city.