Open Space Knowledge and Data and Their Influence on Natural Products Based Self-Medication Trends

Contemporary academic (conventional) medicine, based on current advancements in life sciences and applying evidence based efficacy and safety principles, has evolved from ancient cultures of well-being and healing practices, which originated in prehistoric times, and it co-exists with their ethno-medicine remnants conveniently described as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) [1, 2]. Global healthcare crisis, which has led to acceptance and even encouragement of CAM practices as an aid to conventional medicine, is a phenomenon of great complexity, comprising processes of various speed and dynamics. In this mini-review we’ll limit discussion to influence of IT and novel scientific knowledge dissemination systems, such as Open Science, to self-medication applied with legally available biologically active substances, but not limited to the OTC drugs.