Malaysian traditional medicine: the usage of marine resources as a treatment and complementary medicine for heart disease

Abstract

The objective of this study is to systematically identify the important marine resources used
for producing traditional medicine for heart disease in Malaysia. To achieve the objective of
this study, a qualitative method was employed through in-depth face-to-face interviews using
a prepared questionnaire. The results indicate that twelve types of marine resources are used
for producing traditional medicine for treating heart disease. Furthermore, the results also
indicate that some of the marine resources are used as a food as well as to treat heart disease. Finally, the findings of this study will help demystify traditional medical practices in Malaysia and assist academicians in understanding the Malaysian culture of traditional medicine.

Keywords: Marine resources; heart disease; traditional medicine; marine materials;
complementary medicine.