traditionalmedicine

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, knowledge, and beliefs incorporating plant-based, animal-based, mineral-based remedies, as well as spiritual and social practices used to maintain health, diagnose illness, or treat injury within a community with historical continuity. Traditional medicine is often culturally defined and passed down through generations, and it may operate alongside or independently from modern biomedicine. The term encompasses a wide range of systems developed in different regions, and is not a single cohesive tradition.

Notable traditions include Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which uses acupuncture, herbal formulas, and modalities such as moxibustion; Ayurveda from the Indian subcontinent, focused on balancing doshas; Unani medicine, derived from Greco-Arabic practice; Siddha, African traditional medicine, and Indigenous healing practices in the Americas and Oceania. Common elements include herbal remedies, dietary therapy, physical therapies (massage, manipulation), and spiritual or ritual practices.

Efficacy and safety vary by modality and condition. Some traditional therapies have undergone modern clinical research, with some positive results and others lacking robust evidence. Safety concerns include toxic plants, poor quality control, misidentified ingredients, and interactions with prescription medicines. Regulation and quality control range from formal pharmacovigilance and licensing to informal governance, depending on the country. WHO has promoted traditional medicine as a component of primary health care, encouraging evidence-based integration, safeguarding traditional knowledge, and ensuring patient safety.

In contemporary health care, traditional medicine remains widely used worldwide, often in combination with conventional treatments. Documentation of traditional remedies contributes to pharmacological research and potential drug discovery, though proper evaluation and standardization are essential.