As drug supplies run short, Egyptians turn to herbal remedies

Samy Al Aatar, owner of a herbal store, takes ingredients to prepare natural herbal drug in Cairo, Egypt January 10, 2017. Picture taken January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

CAIRO (Reuters) - In an economic crisis that has led to a shortage of medicines, Egyptians are skipping trips to drug stores and instead turning to herbal remedies to treat every-day illnesses.

In the Cairo working class neighbourhood of Basateen, dozens can be seen lining up outside a decades-old herbal spice shop with pyramid-shaped stacks of jars on display, filled with everything from honey and ginger to camel's hay.