Traditional Medicine

Overview

Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.

Herbal treatments are the most popular form of traditional medicine and 70% to 80% of the Region has used a form as primary health care.

One third of the population lacks access to essential medicines and the provision of safe and effective traditional and alternative remedies could become an important way of increasing access to health care services.

 Tried and tested methods and products:

• Acupuncture has been proven effective in relieving a variety of pain disorders, high blood pressure, depression and morning sickness. It can also alleviate postoperative pain and adverse reactions to chemotherapy.

• The Chinese herb Artemisia annua has been found to be effective against resistant malaria and could create a breakthrough in preventing almost 1 million deaths annually.

• In South Africa, the plant Sutherlandia microphylla is being studied for use in HIV patients. The plant may increase energy, appetite and body mass in people living with HIV.

Traditional medicine is often termed alternative or complementary medicine in many countries. 

Traditional medicine: Traditional medicine has a long history. It is the sum total of the knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.

Complementary medicine: The terms “complementary medicine” or “alternative medicine” refer to a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition or conventional medicine and are not fully integrated into the dominant health-care system. They are used interchangeably with traditional medicine in some countries.

Integrative Medicine: It is used interchangeably for “traditional medicine” in some countries, refers to a broad set of health care knowledge, skills and practices that may play a supportive role in conjunction with biomedical care.

Herbal medicines: Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products, that contain as active ingredients parts of plants, or other plant materials, or combinations.

Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practises based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.

Traditional medicine is often termed alternative or complementary medicine in many countries. Herbal treatments are the most popular form of traditional medicine and 70% to 80% of the Region has used a form as primary health care.

One third of the population lacks access to essential medicines and the provision of safe and effective traditional and alternative remedies could become an important way of increasing access to health care services.

 Tried and tested methods and products:

• Acupuncture has been proven effective in relieving a variety of pain disorders, high blood pressure, depression and morning sickness. It can also alleviate postoperative pain and adverse reactions to chemotherapy.
• The Chinese herb Artemisia annua has been found to be effective against resistant malaria and could create a breakthrough in preventing almost 1 million deaths annually.
• In South Africa, the plant Sutherlandia microphylla is being studied for use in HIV patients. The plant may increase energy, appetite and body mass in people living with HIV.