The document discusses the World Health Organization's (WHO) strategy on traditional medicine. It defines traditional medicine as health practices incorporating plant, animal and mineral-based medicines, spiritual therapies, and exercises used to maintain well-being and treat illness. The WHO strategy from 2002-2005 aims to integrate traditional medicine into national healthcare systems, provide guidance on safety, efficacy and quality, ensure access, and promote rational use. It addresses developing standards for herbal medicines, monitoring safety, protecting traditional knowledge, and training guidelines.

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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