Traditional medicine, and more specifically herbal medicine, plays an important role in the health pyramid of populations, and can thus be an important public health tool. However, such a tool must be safe and effective. The aim of IRN QUALITY is to bring together partners to examine the relevance of recommending the use of phytotherapeutic products, given the complexity of issues relating to the quality, efficacy and toxicity of these products, and the feasibility of extending their use to the general population in different structural and socio-cultural contexts. After 4 years existence, the network is now constituted of 17 teams spread over 8 countries, plus one French overseas collectivity (New Caledonia), and 4 continents. It has defined a research-action strategy for the development of a harmonised quality approach with the objective of making the use of medicinal plants safer.
FOCUS AND PROJECTS
