A monograph on medicinal plants is a technical document which provides scientific information on the safety, efficacy and quality control of medicinal plants to promote their proper use as herbal medicines. It can serve as a document for official endorsement as well as assist the appropriate use of herbal medicine. It will also facilitate information exchange among Member States.

The information contained in the monographs includes botanical features, quality control standard and test methods, major chemical constituents, clinical applications, pharmacology, posology and possible contraindications and precautions. The format of monographs for medicinal plants, prepared by a WHO collaborating centre for traditional medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago, United States of America, could be used as a model for interested countries.

Each country should prepare informative publications from the monographs as a reference for the health care workers and the public.