Traditional , herbal and alternative medicine

1. WHO Traditional Medicine
Strategy
Technical Briefing Seminar, WHO Headquarters, September 2004 1

2. What is traditional medicine?
WHO defines traditional medicine as
including diverse health practices,
approaches, knowledge and beliefs
incorporating plant, animal, and/or mineral
based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual
techniques and exercises which can be used
to maintain well-being, as well as to treat,
diagnose or prevent illness.
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3.  Traditional medicine (TM) is an important and
often underestimated part of health services.
In some countries, traditional medicine or
non-conventional medicine may be termed
complementary medicine (CM).
 TM has a long history of use in health
maintenance and in disease prevention and
treatment, particularly for chronic disease.

4. Complementary/alternative medicine (CAM)
 The terms "complementary medicine" or
"alternative medicine" are used inter-changeably
with traditional medicine in some
countries. They refer to a broad set of health
care practices that are not part of that
country's own tradition and are not integrated
into the dominant health care system.

5. Traditional and Complementary/
Alternative Medicine
Categories of TM/CAM
Main Popular System of TM/CAM
 Traditional Chinese Medicine
 Indian Ayurveda Medicine
 Arabic Unani Medicine
 Homeopathy
 Chiropractic
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6. Traditional and Complementary/
Alternative Medicine
Categories of TM/CAM
Medication
 Medicinal plants
 Mineral materials
 Animal materials
Non-medication
 Acupuncture
 Chiropractic
 Osteopathy
 Manual therapies
 Qigong, Taiji, Yoga
 Physical, mental and
spiritual therapies
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7. 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.

8. Herbal medicine
1- Cinnamon ( )القرفة
2-Anchusa Strigosa ( )الورد الماوي
3-Foeniculum vulgare ( )حبة الحلوة
4-camellia sinensis ( )الشاي الاخضر
5- Ziziphus jujuba ( )العناب
6- Ginger ( )الزنجبيل
7- Matricaria chmomilla ( )البابونج

9. Why traditional medicine?
An alternative approach to health care in
developed countries
 concern about the adverse effects of
"chemical drugs",
 questioning of the approaches and
assumptions of allopathic medicine, and
 greater public access to health
information.
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10. General considerations
 Despite its existence and use over
centuries, traditional medicine has not been
officially recognized in most countries.
 The safety and efficacy data on traditional
medicine are far from sufficient.
 Lack of research data are mostly due to a
lack of adequate or accepted research
methodology for evaluating traditional
medicine.
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11. Uncritical enthusiasm versus
uninformed scepticism
 strong reservations and often frank disbelief
about the benefits of TM.
 demand has grown for evidence on the safety,
efficacy and quality of TM products and
practices.
Increased use of TM/CAM has not been
accompanied by an increase in the quantity,
quality and accessibility of clinical evidence to
support claims of TM/CAM.
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12. WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-
2005
Policy: integrate TM/CAM with national health
care systems
Safety, efficacy and quality: provide guidance
and support for effective regulation
Access: ensure availability and affordability of
TM/CAM
Rational use: promote therapeutically-sound
use of TM/CAM by providers and consumers
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13. Safety, Efficacy and Quality
Quality control
 Good Agricultural and Collection Practices for medicinal
plants
 Updating Quality Control Methods for Raw Materials of
Medicinal Plants
 Updating GMP guidelines for herbal medicines
 Contaminants and residues
Safety
 Developing Guidelines for Safety
Monitoring and pharmacovigilance of
Herbal Medicines
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14. Access
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
A growing herbal market
and its great commercial
benefit - need to ensure
sustainable use of
medicinal plant resources

Difficulties relating to
the protection of
knowledge on
traditional medicine

15. Rational Use
WHO developing training guidelines
 Training guidelines for chiropractic
 Training guidelines for manual therapies
 Osteopathy
 Chinese tui-na
 Shiatsu
 Judo-therapy
 Training Guidelines for Phytotherapy
 WHO Consumer Guidelines
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16. Conclusion
 Traditional Medicine will but…
It is long way to go...
contribute to human health
care in the 21st century;
 There are many challenges to
the safety and effective use of
traditional medicine;
 The WHO Strategy will meet
the gaps and challenges;
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