Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Sociology, University of Yazd, Yazd, Iran.
2
Department of Sociology,,, University of Yazd, Yazd, Iran.
3
Yazd University
10.22091/ethc.2026.15947.1081
Abstract
Objective: Herbal medicine is shaped by cultural, scientific, and institutional factors, and its development requires attention to a range of scientific, social, and structural requirements. This study aimed to explore the contexts, processes, and consequences of the requirements of herbal medicine in Yazd.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted within an interpretive paradigm using grounded theory and Strauss and Corbin’s objectivist approach. Data were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding to identify the causal conditions, contexts, strategies, and consequences of the phenomenon. Participants were Yazd residents with a strong inclination toward and commitment to herbal medicine. Purposeful sampling was used, and 22 participants were selected.
Results: Data analysis yielded 317 initial concepts, 118 subcategories, and 9 main categories. The major categories included scientific development of herbal medicine, building public trust, establishing and expanding therapeutic and research centers, supervision, regulation and legislation, and quality assurance, standardization, and accreditation. The findings showed that the requirements of herbal medicine extend beyond scientific and practical needs and are shaped by the cultural and structural context of the healthcare system.
Conclusion: The development and consolidation of herbal medicine require simultaneous attention to scientific, cultural, social, and institutional dimensions. Cultural and social factors also play an important role in its acceptance and expansion and should therefore be considered in health policy-making and macro-level planning.
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