Institute of Herbal Medicine

The Institute of Herbal Medicine, created upon approval of the UP Board of Regents on 29 March 2007, is the recognized leading authority on herbal medicine research and development in the Philippines. The IHM undertakes scientific, ethical, and culturally-sensitive researches and development on Philippine medicinal plants in an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach enhancing their rational use in the community and promoting the growth of the national pharmaceutical industry. The Institute documents the healing knowledge and practices of the Philippine ethno-linguistic groups, conducts studies to determine the efficacy and safety of selected medicinal plants for use in the community, and advocates the rational use of safe and effective medicinal plants by the public and health care providers.

The Institute of Herbal Medicine conducts the Philippine Herbal Medicine Summits with the objective of bringing together all stakeholders of herbal medicines including those involved in research, funding, manufacturing, distribution, regulation, and consumption in order to share best practices as well as to work together in improving the state of herbal medicine drug development in the country. The members of the academe, pharmaceutical industry, government funders, regulators and consumers came together and found ways to cooperate and collaborate. As of 2021, the Institute has successfully conducted 3 Summits.