Traditional medicines comprise knowledge systems developed over generations within various societies before modern medicine. They include medicinal plants, minerals, animals and non-medication practices. While traditional medicines provide accessible primary healthcare in developing countries and are gaining popularity in developed countries, there is still a lack of standardized research on their safety and efficacy compared to orthodox medicines.

1. A P R E S E N TAT I O N B Y P H A R M AC I S T
M O H A M M E D R A B I U U M A RU
P R E C E P TO R : P H A R M AC I S T BA S H I R A . S
P H A R M AC Y D E PA R T M E N T, N AT I O N A L
H O S P I TA L , A BU JA .
1 2 T H M AY 2 0 1 5
TRADITIONAL MEDICINES
1

2. OUTLINE
 Definitions
 History
 Traditional Medicine Practices
 Traditional Healers
 Traditional medicines vs. Orthodox medicines
 Case for & against Traditional medicines
 summary
 Conclusion
 Acknowledgement and references
2

3. DEFINITIONS
 Traditional medicine (also known as alternative,
complimentary, indigenous or folk medicine) comprises
knowledge systems that developed over generations within
various societies before the era of modern medicine.
 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional
medicine as "the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and
practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences
indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used
in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention,
diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental
illness.
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4. BRIEF HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL
MEDICINES
Emperor Sheng Nun (2730 BC
– 3000 BC) compiled the first
pharmacopoeia .
The Egyptian Papyrus Elber
dated to have been written at
about 1500 BC mentioned
some very prominent medicinal
plants still used today.
Hippocrates (460 BC); the
father of modern medicine
wrote a book known as Materia
Medica composed of over 400
simple remedies .
Theophrastus of Athens (370
BC); a biologist and botanist
known to have written the book
Historia Plantarium.
Traditional
medicine
practitioners
worthy of
mention
4

5. HISTORY cont’d
 Other practitioners worthy of mention are; Dioscorides, Galen
Pliny the elder, Scribonius Largus and Avicenna.
 Traditional medicines may be classified into;
1) Medication:
Medicinal plants, Mineral materials and Animal materials
2) Non-medication:
Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Manual therapies,
Qigong, Taiji, Yoga, Physical, Mental & Spiritual therapies
5

6. TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
PRACTICES (TMP)
TM
P
AYURVED
A
ACUPU
NCTURE
TRADITIONA
L AFRICAN
MEDICINE
SIDDHA
MEDICI
NE
ANCIENT
IRANIAN
MEDICIN
E
IRANI
IFA
UNANI
ISLAMIC
MEDICIN
E
TRADITION
AL
CHINESE
MEDICINE
TRADITION
AL
KOREAN
MEDICINE
MUTI
6

7. TMP cont’d
7
 Traditional African Medicine
(TAM): A holistic discipline
involving Indigenous Herbalism
and African spirituality delivered
by diviners, midwives and
herbalists. Diagnosis is reached
through spiritual means and a
treatment (usually consisting of a
herbal remedy with symbolic and
spiritual significance) is
prescribed.

8.  Acupuncture: A treatment
derived from ancient
Chinese medicine in which
fine needles are inserted at
certain sites in the body for
therapeutic or preventative
purposes.
8
TMP cont’d

9.  Ayurveda: One of the world’s
oldest holistic healing systems
developed over 5,000 years
ago in India. It is based on the
belief that health and wellness
depend on a delicate balance
between mind, body and spirit.
It is believed that the body
constitution (prakriti) is made
up of a combination of five
universal elements; space, air,
fire, water and earth.
9
TMP cont’d

10. TMP cont’d
 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): A system of primary
health care that includes Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine,
Remedial massage (anmo tuina), Exercise & breathing therapy
(e.g qigong), Diet and Lifestyle advice. It originated from China
dating back thousands of years. The primary feature of modern
TCM is the premise that good health relies on the restoration
and maintenance of harmony, balance and order to the
individual.
 Core disciplines which study traditional medicine include;
Herbalism, Ethnomedicine, Ethnobotany, and Medical
anthropology
10

11. TRADITIONAL HEALERS (TH)
The following are the categories of TH;
Herbalists
Traditional birth attendants
Bone-setters
Traditional medicinal ingredient dealers
Traditional psychiatrists
Practitioners of therapeutic occultism
11

12. WHY TRADITIONAL MEDICINES?
 Traditional and modern medicine have much to offer each
other despite their differences. The time is right for the revival
of traditional medicine use.
 For several millennia, THs around the world have healed the
wounded, ill and sick with herbal and/or animal-derived
remedies, handed down across generations.
 In Africa and Asia, about 80% of the population still use
traditional remedies rather than modern medicine for primary
health care.
 Only about 4% of existing plants have been researched on.
12

13. WHY TM cont’d
Populations in developing countries using traditional medicines for primary health care (courtesy WHO, 2010)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Nigeria Tanzania Rwanda India Benin Ethopia
Percentage
Percentage
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14. WHY TM cont’d
Populations in developed countries who have used TM/CAM at least once (courtesy WHO, 2010)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
USA Australia France Canada Germany
Percentage
Percentage
14

15. WHY TM cont’d
 In developed nations, TM is rapidly gaining appeal. Estimates
suggest up to 80% of the world population have tried a
traditional therapy such as Acupuncture or Homeopathy.
 A survey conducted earlier this year found that 74% of US
medical students believe that western medicine would benefit by
integrating traditional/alternative therapies and practices.
 The industry is also worth lots of money. In 2013, traditional
medicines worth US$14 billion were sold in China. And in 2007,
Brazil saw revenues of US$160 million from traditional therapies
which form part of a global market of more than US$60 billion.
15

16. WHY TM cont’d
 In developing countries, TM represents an accessible and
affordable medium of Primary Health Care (PHC) for the
populace. A cross-section is shown below;
RATIO OF PRACTITIONERS TO POPULATION
Traditional Medical
Practitioner Doctor
Swaziland 1:100 1:10,000
Ghana 1:200 1:20,000
Uganda 1:700 1:25,000
Mozambique 1:200 1:50,000
16

17. TM vs. ORTHODOX MEDICINE(OM)
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE ORTHODOX MEDICINE
Traditional medicines may not have all
the answers. But a valid alternative
Modern medicine is desperately short of
new treatments
The drugs are readily available more
research should be carried out on them
It takes years for a new drug to pass
through research, development and
then manufacture.
It is more cost effective since it is
readily available to patients
Economic burden for manufacture and
procurement
The issue of drug resistance may not be
as pronounced although more research
should be conducted
Drug resistance has rendered many
drugs (especially antibiotics) less
efficacious
17

18. TM vs. OM cont’d
 Traditional medicines provide an alternative approach to health
care in developed countries. This is necessary due to concerns
about orthodox drug safety and the potential for greater public
access to drug information.
 These facts have led to the collaboration between scientists and
pharmaceutical companies to continuously research on/discover
new drug sources.
 Major triumphs have stoked interest in TM as a source for highly
efficacious drugs. The best known of these is the discovery of
“Artemisinin” used to treat malaria.
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19. THE CASE FOR TM
 Tradition: Been used throughout history.
 Natural: Perceived as gentler and safer.
 Cost: Often less expensive than prescription medicine.
 Access: Patient maintains control & no prescription(s)
necessary.
 Synergism: A view that multiple ingredients working together
yield better results.
19

20. THE CASE AGAINST TM
 Lack of FDA regulation and oversight leading to lack of
standardized dosages and potential for adulteration.
 Safety and efficacy data are not always sufficient.
 Lack of research data is mostly due to lack of adequate or
accepted research methodologies for evaluating TM.
 Strong reservations and often frank disbelief about the benefits of
TM.
 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.
20

21. MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR
USES
21
DRUG BIOLOGICAL SOURCE USES
Acacia gum Acacia senegal Emulsifying agent
Aloe Aloe spp Purgative
Belladonna Atropa belladona Antispasmodic mydriatic
Caffeine Thea sinensis CNS stimulant
Caraway fruit Carum carvi Flavoring agent and calmative
Cascara bark Rhamnus purshiana Laxative
Castor oil Ricinus communis Purgative, vehicle of eye drop
Cinchona bark Cinchona succirubra Bitter tonic quinidine for atrial
fibrillation
Coca leaf Erythroxylon coca Local anesthetic

22. EXAMPLES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR USES
22
DRUGS BIOLOGICAL SOURCES USES
Digitalis Digitalis purpurea Myocardial stimulant
Ephedra Ephedra sinesis For relief of asthma and hay
fever
Ergot sclerotium Claviceps purpurea Uterine stimulant
Gentian root Gentiana lutea Bitter used to stimulate
appetite
Ginger Zingiber officinale Calmative and aromatic
Rauwolfia root Rauwolfia serpentina Psychiatric cases and anti
hypertensive
Theophylline Thea sinensis Diuretic mild CNS stimulant
Tubocurarine Chondodendron tomentosum Muscle relaxant

23. SUMMARY
 Traditional medical knowledge is widely prevalent around the world
and a large percentage of the public have integrated them for their
various health needs.
 Although, continued community and public patronage is sustaining
and fostering growth in developing and developed countries, there
still exists a gap between public choice as well as national and
institutional efforts for TM integration.
 High technology/external resource orientation and use in the
development and distribution (markets) of medicines continues to
marginalize traditional medical cultures in the health-care systems.
 The various stakeholders (regulators, consumers and practitioners)
also see the challenges and issues differently.
23

24. SUMMARY Cont’d
 It is evident that any model of health-care based on a single
system of medicine will find it difficult to cope with the health
care demands in the near future.
 It is also obvious that traditional and cultural medical knowledge
has a catalyzing effect in meeting health sector development
objectives and will continue to be so.
 There exists major differences in the usage of TM in the
developed and developing nations. While safety is the primary
concern in developed countries, access and cost seem to be
critical issues in developing countries.
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25. CONCLUSION
 There is scant data on utilization of TM and a dearth of research
policy and good integration models in the sector.
 It is essential not to romanticize TM use but seriously consider
issues of safety, efficacy and quality, access and rational use.
 Integrate them into the mainstream health system without
compromising the diversity and unique aspects.
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26. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
26
 Pharmacist Bashir A.S
 Pharmacist Oluleti Lekan
 Pharmacist Okhuosami F.S

27. REFERENCES
27
Bodeker, G., C. K. Ong, C. Grundy, G. Burford, K. Shein, WHO Global Atlas of
Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, World Health
Organization, Kobe, 2005.
Bodeker, G., and G. Burford, Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Policy and Public Health Perspectives, Imperial College Press, London, 2007.
Cohen, M., Bodeker, G., eds., Understanding the Global Spa Industry: Spa
Management, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2008.
Janska, E., What Role Should Traditional Medicine Play in Public Health Policy,
UNU-IAS working paper no.142, UNU-Institute of Advanced Studies, Yokohama,
2005.
JOICFP, Household Medicine Distributors in Rural Japan, JOICFP, Tokyo, 1983.
Patwardhan, B., Traditional Medicine: A Novel Approach for Available, Accessible
and Affordable Health Care, A paper submitted for Regional consultation on
Development of Traditional Medicine in the South-East Asia Region, Korea, World
Health Organization, 2005.
WHO, WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002─2005, World Health
Organization, 2002

28. REFERENCES
28
 Barnes, J., “Pharmacovigilance of Herbal Medicines: A United Kingdom
Perspective,” in G. Bodeker and G. Burford eds., Traditional, Complementary and
Alternative Medicine Policy and Public Health Perspectives, Imperial College
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 Bodeker, G., “Medicinal Plant Biodiversity and Local Health Care: Rural
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 El-Gendy. A. R., “Regional Overview: Eastern Mediterranean Region,” in G.
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 Farnsworth, N., “Screening Plants for New Medicines,” in Wilson. E. O. ed.,
Biodiversity,. National Academy Press, Washington D. C, 1988, pp. 83─97.
 Gaitonde, B. K., Kurup, P. N. V., “Regional Overview: South-East Asia Region,” in G.
Bodeker, C. K. Ong, C. Grundy, G. Burford and K. Shein eds.,

29. THANK YOU
FOR BEING A
GOOD
AUDIENCE
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