Overview of Knowledge Regarding the Use of Traditional Medicines as Antihypertensives: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Hypertension is a degenerative disease characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure, which can lead to serious complications such as stroke, kidney failure, and coronary heart disease. The use of traditional medicine as an adjunct therapy for hypertension is increasingly common among the public; however, its successful application depends heavily on the level of knowledge regarding types, benefits, preparation methods, dosages, and proper usage. This study aims to describe public knowledge regarding the use of traditional medicine as an antihypertensive agent, based on findings from previous research. A narrative literature review method was employed, comprising stages of defining the research interest and topic, conducting the literature review, and formulating the research thesis. Literature searches were conducted via Google Scholar using the keywords "knowledge," "traditional medicine," and "hypertension." From an initial pool of 3,360 articles, a selection process involving title screening, abstract review, and full-text analysis resulted in five scientific articlespublished between 2020 and 2026 being selected for narrative analysis using a thematic approach. The study results indicate that the majority of the general public and hypertension patients possess a "good" to "fair" level of knowledge regarding the use of traditional medicine. Some studies reported "good" knowledge levels of 77%, 94.74%, and 73.5%, while another study indicated a "fair" knowledge level of 74%. Factors influencing knowledge levels include prior experience with traditional medicine, education level, cultural background, and access to health information. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the public possesses a reasonably good understanding of utilizing traditional medicine as an adjunct therapy for hypertension. Nevertheless, continuous health education remains essential to ensure that traditional medicine is used safely, rationally, and appropriately in relation to the user's health condition.