Based on the growing interest in traditional medicine shown by
consumers, scientists and regulators, three important challenges
present themselves.
• The public and the users of traditional medicine request
safe, quality–controlled and effective remedies.
• Medical scientists request more scientifically sound
evidence before comfortably accepting many traditional
medicine practices. Many health professionals have
doubts about the usefulness of traditional medicine. In
many cases, they require more scientifically–based
evidence if they are to trust its safety and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the involvement of the academic and
scientific community provides the opportunity to create
more evidence by means of modern science.
• Governments need to establish and update mechanisms
for the regulation of traditional medicine and its
practitioners and, in doing so, require more
scientifically–based evidence to support decision–
making. As traditional systems of medicine become
better documented, and more scientifically credible,
usage is only likely to increase further.
Consumers, of course, have many different reasons for using
traditional medicine, and may not require the same level of evidence
of practice that is espoused by medical scientists. Consumers may
have confidence in, for example, oriental herbal medicine because
of its existence in public hospitals and medical infrastructure in
China, Republic of Korea, and Japan, instituted by centuries of use,
scholarly writings and a formal tertiary education system.
Consumers may also be prepared to try an herbal formula that has
been used and documented in classical medical literature for many
centuries and may be less convinced by a clinical trial of a new drug
– having been applied only to a well–defined sample group.
Consumers’ awareness of these factors may generate more confidence
in terms of ‘evidence behind practice’ than any single
methodologically rigorous clinical trial. However, to the scientist
it’s the latter, and not the former, that represents the stronger evidence.
Source: www.who.int
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Traditional Medicine: Changes in trends of usage
Traditional medicine exists in most countries and areas in the
Western Pacific Region and makes a significant contribution to the
health of the people of the Region. Interest in traditional medicine
has increased over the last decade and seems likely to continue.
People now are more prepared to look for alternative approaches to
maintain their health.
There are no solid data on the extent of usage of traditional
medicine in the Region. However, data from several countries and
areas in the Region show that around 40% to 60% of the population
of these countries and areas use traditional medicine. For example,
traditional medicine accounts for around 40% of all health care
delivered in China and in Hong Kong, approximately 60% of the
population has consulted traditional medicine practitioners at one
time or another.3
The use of traditional/complementary medicine in industrialized
countries has increased significantly. Studies conducted in the US
show that complementary therapy usage increased from 34% in 1990
to 42% in 1997.4 In Australia, research has indicated that 48.5% of
the population used at least one non–medically prescribed alternative
medicine in 1993. The estimated national expenditure on alternative
medicines and alternative practitioners is close to A$1 000 million
per annum, of which A$621 million is spent on alternative medicines.5
An Australian government report in 1996 estimated that there were
at least 2.8 million traditional Chinese medicine consultations in
1996, representing an annual turnover of A$84 million within the
health economy. This growth was also reflected in a four–fold
increase in the importation of Chinese herbal medicines since 1992.6
Clearly, traditional medicine is widely used by the public, and
in some countries its use has increased dramatically. Increased
demands from public lead to increased interest and involvement of
the academic and scientific community. Concurrently, more and
more governments from countries and areas within the Region have
shown their interest and willingness to promote the proper use of
traditional medicine.
Source: www.who.int
Western Pacific Region and makes a significant contribution to the
health of the people of the Region. Interest in traditional medicine
has increased over the last decade and seems likely to continue.
People now are more prepared to look for alternative approaches to
maintain their health.
There are no solid data on the extent of usage of traditional
medicine in the Region. However, data from several countries and
areas in the Region show that around 40% to 60% of the population
of these countries and areas use traditional medicine. For example,
traditional medicine accounts for around 40% of all health care
delivered in China and in Hong Kong, approximately 60% of the
population has consulted traditional medicine practitioners at one
time or another.3
The use of traditional/complementary medicine in industrialized
countries has increased significantly. Studies conducted in the US
show that complementary therapy usage increased from 34% in 1990
to 42% in 1997.4 In Australia, research has indicated that 48.5% of
the population used at least one non–medically prescribed alternative
medicine in 1993. The estimated national expenditure on alternative
medicines and alternative practitioners is close to A$1 000 million
per annum, of which A$621 million is spent on alternative medicines.5
An Australian government report in 1996 estimated that there were
at least 2.8 million traditional Chinese medicine consultations in
1996, representing an annual turnover of A$84 million within the
health economy. This growth was also reflected in a four–fold
increase in the importation of Chinese herbal medicines since 1992.6
Clearly, traditional medicine is widely used by the public, and
in some countries its use has increased dramatically. Increased
demands from public lead to increased interest and involvement of
the academic and scientific community. Concurrently, more and
more governments from countries and areas within the Region have
shown their interest and willingness to promote the proper use of
traditional medicine.
Source: www.who.int
Traditional Medicine: Changes in trends of usage
Traditional medicine exists in most countries and areas in the
Western Pacific Region and makes a significant contribution to the
health of the people of the Region. Interest in traditional medicine
has increased over the last decade and seems likely to continue.
People now are more prepared to look for alternative approaches to
maintain their health.
There are no solid data on the extent of usage of traditional
medicine in the Region. However, data from several countries and
areas in the Region show that around 40% to 60% of the population
of these countries and areas use traditional medicine. For example,
traditional medicine accounts for around 40% of all health care
delivered in China and in Hong Kong, approximately 60% of the
population has consulted traditional medicine practitioners at one
time or another.3
The use of traditional/complementary medicine in industrialized
countries has increased significantly. Studies conducted in the US
show that complementary therapy usage increased from 34% in 1990
to 42% in 1997.4 In Australia, research has indicated that 48.5% of
the population used at least one non–medically prescribed alternative
medicine in 1993. The estimated national expenditure on alternative
medicines and alternative practitioners is close to A$1 000 million
per annum, of which A$621 million is spent on alternative medicines.5
An Australian government report in 1996 estimated that there were
at least 2.8 million traditional Chinese medicine consultations in
1996, representing an annual turnover of A$84 million within the
health economy. This growth was also reflected in a four–fold
increase in the importation of Chinese herbal medicines since 1992.6
Clearly, traditional medicine is widely used by the public, and
in some countries its use has increased dramatically. Increased
demands from public lead to increased interest and involvement of
the academic and scientific community. Concurrently, more and
more governments from countries and areas within the Region have
shown their interest and willingness to promote the proper use of
traditional medicine.
Source: www.who.int
Western Pacific Region and makes a significant contribution to the
health of the people of the Region. Interest in traditional medicine
has increased over the last decade and seems likely to continue.
People now are more prepared to look for alternative approaches to
maintain their health.
There are no solid data on the extent of usage of traditional
medicine in the Region. However, data from several countries and
areas in the Region show that around 40% to 60% of the population
of these countries and areas use traditional medicine. For example,
traditional medicine accounts for around 40% of all health care
delivered in China and in Hong Kong, approximately 60% of the
population has consulted traditional medicine practitioners at one
time or another.3
The use of traditional/complementary medicine in industrialized
countries has increased significantly. Studies conducted in the US
show that complementary therapy usage increased from 34% in 1990
to 42% in 1997.4 In Australia, research has indicated that 48.5% of
the population used at least one non–medically prescribed alternative
medicine in 1993. The estimated national expenditure on alternative
medicines and alternative practitioners is close to A$1 000 million
per annum, of which A$621 million is spent on alternative medicines.5
An Australian government report in 1996 estimated that there were
at least 2.8 million traditional Chinese medicine consultations in
1996, representing an annual turnover of A$84 million within the
health economy. This growth was also reflected in a four–fold
increase in the importation of Chinese herbal medicines since 1992.6
Clearly, traditional medicine is widely used by the public, and
in some countries its use has increased dramatically. Increased
demands from public lead to increased interest and involvement of
the academic and scientific community. Concurrently, more and
more governments from countries and areas within the Region have
shown their interest and willingness to promote the proper use of
traditional medicine.
Source: www.who.int
Traditional Medicine: Background and Characteristics
Traditional medicine is the ancient and culture–bound medical
practice which existed before the application of modern science to
health. The practice of traditional medicine varies widely, in keeping
with the societal and cultural heritage of different countries. Every
human community has responded to the challenge of maintaining
health and treating diseases by developing a medical system. Thus,
traditional medicine has been practised to some degree in all cultures.
A workshop on development of national policy on traditional
medicine organized by WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
in October 1999 defined traditional medicine as the sum total of
knowledge, skills and practices of holistic healthcare, which is
recognized and accepted by the community for its role in the
maintenance of health and the treatment of diseases. Traditional
medicine, based on the theory, beliefs and experiences indigenous to
different cultures, was developed and handed down from generation
to generation1.
In some countries, remedies used by traditional medicine have
re–emerged. Such techniques are usually known as “alternative” or
“complementary” medicine, which as a form of medicine has evolved
recently as a reaction to high technology medicine2.
A traditional medicine practitioner is a person who is recognized
by the community where he or she lives as someone competent to
provide health care by using plant, animal and mineral substances
and other methods based on social, cultural and religious practices.
Traditional medicine practitioners are also recognized as experts on
community attitudes and beliefs related to physical, mental and social
well–being and the causes of disease and disability. Traditional
medicine practitioners include traditional healers, traditional birth
attendants, herbalists and bone–setters.
There are many traditional systems of medicine. However, many
traditional systems of medicine have some common characteristics.
• Traditional medicine is based on a belief that health is
a state of balance between several opposing aspects in
the human body. Illness occurs when an individual falls
out of balance, physically or mentally. The “causes” of
imbalance could be change of weather, intake of certain
food; external factors, such as magical or supernatural
powers; mental stimulation and societal reasons.
Traditional medicine tries to restore the balance using
different therapies.
• Traditional medicine is based on the needs of
individuals. Different people may receive different
treatments even if they suffer from the same disease.
Traditional medicine is based on a belief that each
individual has his or her own constitution and social
circumstances which result in different reactions to
“causes of disease” and treatment.
• Traditional medicine applies a holistic approach. It
considers a person in his or her totality within an
ecological context and usually will not only look after
the sick part of the body. Besides giving treatment,
traditional practitioners usually provide advice on
lifestyles and healthy behaviour.
• Traditional medicine precedes modern medicine. Most
traditional remedies have not been evaluated by sound
scientific methods. This means that, at this stage,
traditional medicine is not easily understood by modern
medicine. However, traditional remedies have been
“field–tested” by tens of thousands of people for
hundreds of years.
• Traditional medicine covers a wide scope and its
practices vary widely from country to country. In the
Region, the main therapeutic techniques are medicinal
plants and acupuncture.
Source: http://www.who.int
practice which existed before the application of modern science to
health. The practice of traditional medicine varies widely, in keeping
with the societal and cultural heritage of different countries. Every
human community has responded to the challenge of maintaining
health and treating diseases by developing a medical system. Thus,
traditional medicine has been practised to some degree in all cultures.
A workshop on development of national policy on traditional
medicine organized by WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
in October 1999 defined traditional medicine as the sum total of
knowledge, skills and practices of holistic healthcare, which is
recognized and accepted by the community for its role in the
maintenance of health and the treatment of diseases. Traditional
medicine, based on the theory, beliefs and experiences indigenous to
different cultures, was developed and handed down from generation
to generation1.
In some countries, remedies used by traditional medicine have
re–emerged. Such techniques are usually known as “alternative” or
“complementary” medicine, which as a form of medicine has evolved
recently as a reaction to high technology medicine2.
A traditional medicine practitioner is a person who is recognized
by the community where he or she lives as someone competent to
provide health care by using plant, animal and mineral substances
and other methods based on social, cultural and religious practices.
Traditional medicine practitioners are also recognized as experts on
community attitudes and beliefs related to physical, mental and social
well–being and the causes of disease and disability. Traditional
medicine practitioners include traditional healers, traditional birth
attendants, herbalists and bone–setters.
There are many traditional systems of medicine. However, many
traditional systems of medicine have some common characteristics.
• Traditional medicine is based on a belief that health is
a state of balance between several opposing aspects in
the human body. Illness occurs when an individual falls
out of balance, physically or mentally. The “causes” of
imbalance could be change of weather, intake of certain
food; external factors, such as magical or supernatural
powers; mental stimulation and societal reasons.
Traditional medicine tries to restore the balance using
different therapies.
• Traditional medicine is based on the needs of
individuals. Different people may receive different
treatments even if they suffer from the same disease.
Traditional medicine is based on a belief that each
individual has his or her own constitution and social
circumstances which result in different reactions to
“causes of disease” and treatment.
• Traditional medicine applies a holistic approach. It
considers a person in his or her totality within an
ecological context and usually will not only look after
the sick part of the body. Besides giving treatment,
traditional practitioners usually provide advice on
lifestyles and healthy behaviour.
• Traditional medicine precedes modern medicine. Most
traditional remedies have not been evaluated by sound
scientific methods. This means that, at this stage,
traditional medicine is not easily understood by modern
medicine. However, traditional remedies have been
“field–tested” by tens of thousands of people for
hundreds of years.
• Traditional medicine covers a wide scope and its
practices vary widely from country to country. In the
Region, the main therapeutic techniques are medicinal
plants and acupuncture.
Source: http://www.who.int
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Prohibited or restricted herbal ingredients
The use of some herbal ingredients in medicines are restricted or prohibited due to their toxicity or potency.
This table provides a consolidated and complete list of herbal ingredients which are subject to various restrictions.Source: http://www.mhra.gov.uk
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