WHO defines traditional medicine as health practices incorporating plant, animal, and mineral-based medicines, manual techniques, and exercises used to maintain well-being and treat illness. Popular traditional medicine systems include Indian Ayurveda, Arabic Unani, homeopathy, chiropractic, and traditional Chinese medicine. Developing countries see 60-90% of their populations using traditional medicine as primary healthcare, while developed countries have 42-80% of populations using complementary and alternative medicine. Traditional medicine faces challenges in policy, regulation, and realizing its market potential, as only 45 of 191 WHO countries have traditional medicine policies and 54 regulate herbal medicines.

1. Traditional
Medicine
By
Harishankar Sahu

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, manual techniques
and exercises which can be used to maintain
well-being, as well as to treat, diagnose or
prevent illness.

3. Traditional
Medicine
Main Popular System of TM/CAM
 Indian Ayurveda Medicine
 Arabic Unani Medicine
 Homeopathy
 Chiropractic
 Traditional Chinese Medicine
Categories of TM
Medication Non-medication

4. Populations using TM
worldwide
Populations in developing
countries using traditional
medicine for primary health
care
60%
60%
70%
70%
70%
90%Ethiopia 90%
Benin 70%
India 70%
Rwanda 70%
Tanzania 60%
Uganda 60%
Populations in developed
countries who have used
complementary and
alternative medicine at least
once
42%
48%
75%
70%
80%
Canada 70%
Australia 48%
France 75%
USA 42%
Germany 80%
Traditional medicines in India
48%
75%
70%
80%
Homeopathy 7%
Unani 4%
Sidhha 4%
Ayurvedic 85%

5. Global Market
 Total global herbal market1 is of size 62.0 billion dollars, in this India’s
contribution is only one billion dollars. The table in annexure 5 explains the
position of India in the global market.
 The forecast is that the global market for herbal products is expected to be $5
Trillion by 2050. Herbal remedies would become increasingly important
especially in developing countries. India, with its biodiversity has a tremendous
potential and advantage in this emerging area.
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Asian european union North America Japan
Global Market

6. Many challenges need to be met for potential
of traditional medicine to be fully realized
Policy and regulation
Government policy and national regulations vary
Only 45 of 191 WHO Member States
have a national policy for TM/CAM
Only 54 of 191 WHO Member States
regulate herbal medicines

7. Conclusion
It is long way to go...
but… Traditional Medicine will
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;