Traditional Algerian medicinal practices for treating gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic literature review

Objective: This study aims to identify potential reasons Vietnamese Americans continue to use traditional medicine and explore the relationship between balancing Western care and traditional medicinal care.  The study’s main hypothesis is that Vietnamese Americans partake in traditional medicinal practices due to five reasons: it is more accessible, there is a cultural significance to the practice, there is a credibility of traditional practices, participants are more comfortable with the practice, and it is more effective than Western medicine. Furthermore, this study hopes to categorize and understand what traditional medicinal practices are used for as supplemental information.Methods: A digital Google survey was sent out to Vietnamese Americans based on personal connection and word-of-mouth. A sample of 107 responses were obtained within a two week collection period.Results: Based on the responses, the results supported only part of the hypothesis in which participants rated that traditional medicinal practices held a cultural significance to them and the user felt comfortable using these practices. More so, herbal medicine, wind scraping or coin scratching, and massage therapy were the most common traditional medicinal practices used among the participant pool. Conclusion: Although the results did not fully support the hypothesis, there is still a better understanding about how respondents viewed traditional medicinal practices in comparison to Western medicine. Vietnamese Americans continue to play a role of bridging traditional and Western practices into their lives, which brings up a point of the need to be more culturally sensitive to traditional practices in a Western healthcare setting. This would allow more cultural competency in designing Western healthcare interventions and open pathways to collaborate between both health spheres, overall potentially decreasing barriers to access to culturally competent care in the United States.

The present review aims to explore the traditional plant knowledge and utilization practices among the local tribal communities in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra, India. To document ethnobotanical uses, the published literature including journals, floras and other online published sources was surveyed. A total of 370 taxa belonging to 290 genera and 82 families were identified. Local communities employ these plant species for various purposes. Traditional medicinal practices in local communities involve the use of both monoherbal and polyherbal remedies. Notably, this study indicated a higher prevalence of dermatological and gastrointestinal disorders in the district. Interestingly, research has also found that 34 invasive plant species are being utilized by the local tribal communities for healing various ailments. We have also computed the citation index (CI) and use index (UI) for each species. This study illuminates the rich traditional plant knowledge and its multifaceted applications within the local tribal communities of Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, India. The documentation of traditional plant knowledge in this region provides valuable insights into conservation efforts and the development of sustainable practices that respect the intricate bonds between people and nature.

The practice of traditional Aboriginal medicine within Australia is at risk of being lost due to the impact of colonisation. Displacement of people from traditional lands as well as changes in family structures affecting passing on of cultural knowledge are two major examples of this impact. Prior to colonisation traditional forms of healing, such as the use of traditional healers, healing songs and bush medicines were the only source of primary health care. It is unclear to what extent traditional medical practice remains in Australia in 2013 within the primary health care setting, and how this practice sits alongside the current biomedical health care model. An extensive literature search was performed from a wide range of literature sources in attempt to identify and examine both qualitatively and quantitatively traditional medicine practices within Aboriginal Australia today. Whilst there is a lack of academic literature and research on this subject the literature found suggests that traditional medicine practice in Aboriginal Australia still remains and the extent to which it is practiced varies widely amongst communities across Australia. This variation was found to depend on association with culture and beliefs about disease causation, type of illness presenting, success of biomedical treatment, and accessibility to traditional healers and bush medicines. Traditional medicine practices were found to be used sequentially, compartmentally and concurrently with biomedical healthcare. Understanding more clearly the role of traditional medicine practice, as well as looking to improve and support integrative and governance models for traditional medicine practice, could have a positive impact on primary health care outcomes for Aboriginal Australia.

Tradition is the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation; custom is a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing things specific to a particular society, place, or time while belief is an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof. The aim of the study is to lay out systematic customary nostrum practices among the Idoma ethnic group in Ayele, Nasarawa local government area, Nasarawa state, Nigeria and avail scientific interventions to enhance the practices. Epitomized and typified prevalent traditional medicinal practices sequences were investigated to determine how the healers arrive at etiology, symptoms, signs, pathologies, diagnoses and treatments as well as preventive measures using structured oral interview and useful data. Descriptive analysis was adopted. Results obtained included evaluation of the beliefs and traditional practices which were used to answer the specific objectives of the study. Relevant scientific interventions were also proposed. The research served as enhancements and modifications that can lead to major improvements in traditional medicine practices and the health of the people.

During pregnancy, vaginal flora pH changes and vaginal discharge may increase. Pregnant women may resort to traditional methods for vaginal discharge, but some traditional practices may cause health problems. This study aimed to examine the attitudes of pregnant women in Turkey towards traditional and complementary medicine attitude and the traditional practices they use for abnormal vaginal discharge. This descriptive study was conducted with 306 pregnant women using an online survey via social media platforms. The Personal Identification Form and the Complementary, Alternative and Conventional Medicine Attitudes Scale were used as data collection tools. 60.5% of participants had not received genital hygiene education. 15% of participants used traditional and complementary medicine methods for vaginal discharge, and 57.1% of those who used these methods used niaouli oil. The mean score obtained from the Complementary, Alternative and Conventional Medicine Attitudes Scale was 106.32 ± 21.76. The attitude scores of non-working participants were significantly higher than those of working participants (p = 0.018). Participants who had fewer than four prenatal visits and those who did not receive genital hygiene education had higher total scale scores (p = 0.001 and p = 0.026). Additionally, visiting a doctor when experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge was found to negatively affect the total scale score (p = 0.010). Pregnant women’s attitudes toward traditional and complementary medicine practices were generally moderate, while the rates of using traditional and complementary medicine methods for vaginal discharge and receiving genital hygiene education were low. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare professionals inquire about pregnant women’s use of CAM methods during prenatal checkups, provide genital hygiene education, and incorporate CAM methods into prenatal education programs based on evidence-based information.

In spite of the presence of modern healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and health centers, coupled with well advanced modern medical technology, many people in Ghana continue to patronize traditional medicine. Using the qualitative approach, this study investigates the state and practice of traditional medicine among the Ewe of Ghana in contemporary times. In the first place, the study reviews literature on traditional medicine and African healing systems. Secondly, the study discusses the methodological framework. In addition, the study explores the state and practice of traditional medicine among the Ewe of Ghana, focusing on the ethnography of diseases, the topography of traditional medicine practitioners, and the prospects and challenges of the practice of traditional medicine in contemporary times. Data collection instruments such as interviews and observations were used to collect primary data. The study finds that traditional medicine contributes to alternative medicine, saves people from disabilities, and ensures the affordability of healthcare. However, it has been bedeviled with challenges such as the problem of licensing, lack of association, destruction of medicinal herbs, and infrastructural problems. The study concludes that traditional medicine continues to play a major role in healthcare delivery among the Ewe of Ghana in spite of the presence of modern healthcare systems. More significant is the fact that the study contributes to knowledge in the field of medical anthropology and Ewe ethno-medical history. Keywords: African Traditional Medicine, African Healing Systems, State and Practice, Ewe, Challenges and Prospects

Introduction and Aim: Today, there is an increasing trend towards the use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices worldwide. Nurses are increasingly likely to encounter individuals who use these practices. The aim of this study is to examine the knowledge and attitudes of postgraduate nursing students on traditional and complementary medicine practices. Material and Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 122 postgraduate nursing students in a university in Ankara. Data were collected electronically using the Socio-Demographic Information Form and Structured Questionnaire and the Attitude towards Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Scale. Results and Conclusion: In this study 98.4% of the postgraduate nursing students were women, the majority of them were masters students (61.5%), and their mean age was 30.11±6.3 years. It was determined that 95.1% of them believed that Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices were useful, and almost half (42.6%) used them either for themselves or for a relative. While 67.2% of the student thought that they were not competence to provide information about these practices, 91.8% of them wanted to take a course. It was also determined that the students had a positive attitude towards the practices of traditional and complementary medicine. In this study, it was determined that postgraduate nursing students had a positive attitude despite their lack of knowledge and practice about traditional and complementary practices. Although postgraduate nursing students are interested in Traditional and Complementary Medicine practices, it is recommended to plan courses for postgraduate education programs due to the lack of knowledge. Keywords: Postgraduate nursing education; therapy, complementary; knowledge; attitude

PurposeThis paper critically examines the state of tribal health in India by analyzing the accessibility and availability of traditional medicine and modern healthcare.Design/methodology/approachThis essay is the product of an extensive review of the literature and authors' personal experience in working with the tribal communities.FindingsThe traditional medicinal practices once very prevalent among the tribal communities are diminishing due to various socio-economic, environmental and political factors. Modern healthcare in India's tribal region is characterized by a lack of availability, accessibility and affordability. As a result of the diminishing traditional practices and inaccessible modern healthcare provisions, tribal communities depend on quacks and magico-religious practices.Originality/valueThis essay advocates for urgent policy interventions to integrate traditional medicine and modern healthcare practices to address critical tribal health issues. Preservation of traditional medicinal knowledge-base and improving research in the field have the potential to address the health of tribal communities and of others. The accessibility and availability of modern healthcare facilities in tribal regions should be improved to ensure better health outcomes.

The maintenance of mexican traditional medicine practices among mexicans in southern Arizona

In the majority of the countries in Asia, traditional medicine (TM) practice is a complement to modern medicine. However, TM has obtained global recognition for its contribution to the Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals. Practice of TM can vary from country to country and from region to region. Moreover, TM practices in a certain country may not be the country’s own tradition. Hence, the TM might be recognised officially or just be accepted by the communities. In order to look into the perspectives from WHO and countries across Asia pertaining to the definition of TM, the 50 Asian countries will be categorised in accordance with four of the WHO regions, namely Western Pacific Region (WPR), South-East Asia Region (SEAR), Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and European Region (EUR). Taiwan is the only one Asian country that has yet to be accepted by the WHO. Among the 50 Asian countries, the definition of TM in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand has been clearly spelled out in the respective country’s relevant act, whereas the definitions of TM in the majority of the Asian countries have lots of similarities with WHO’s definition on TM. Generally, TM practice in a particular country has a close linkage with their historical and cultural heritage, and under the influence of religions. Hence, it is not possible to have one model or one set of definitions to deal with the patient’s ideology and need. While having a standard definition is good, it does not mean that without such definition, these TM practises will be at fault.

BackgroundIn sub-Saharan Africa, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is being recognized as a non-communicable disease (NCD) with high morbidity and mortality. In countries like Tanzania, people access many sources, including traditional medicines, to meet their healthcare needs for NCDs, but little is known about traditional medicine practices among people with CKD. Therefore, we sought to characterize these practices among community members with CKD in northern Tanzania.MethodsBetween December 2013 and June 2014, we administered a previously-developed survey to a random sample of adult community-members from the Kilimanjaro Region; the survey was designed to measure traditional medicine practices such as types, frequencies, reasons, and modes. Participants were also tested for CKD, diabetes, hypertension, and HIV as part of the CKD-AFRiKA study. To identify traditional medicines used in the local treatment of kidney disease, we reviewed the qualitative sessions which had previously been conducted with key informants.ResultsWe enrolled 481 adults of whom 57 (11.9 %) had CKD. The prevalence of traditional medicine use among adults with CKD was 70.3 % (95 % CI 50.0–84.9 %), and among those at risk for CKD (n = 147; 30.6 %), it was 49.0 % (95 % CI 33.1–65.0 %). Among adults with CKD, the prevalence of concurrent use of traditional medicine and biomedicine was 33.2 % (11.4–65.6 %). Symptomatic ailments (66.7 %; 95 % CI 17.3–54.3), malaria/febrile illnesses (64.0 %; 95 % CI 44.1–79.9), and chronic diseases (49.6 %; 95 % CI 28.6–70.6) were the most prevalent uses for traditional medicines. We identified five plant–based traditional medicines used for the treatment of kidney disease: Aloe vera, Commifora africana, Cymbopogon citrullus, Persea americana, and Zanthoxylum chalybeum.ConclusionsThe prevalence of traditional medicine use is high among adults with and at risk for CKD in northern Tanzania where they use them for a variety of conditions including other NCDs. Additionally, many of these same people access biomedicine and traditional medicines concurrently. The traditional medicines used for the local treatment of kidney disease have a variety of activities, and people with CKD may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects. Recognizing these traditional medicine practices will be important in shaping CKD treatment programs and public health policies aimed at addressing CKD.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12882-015-0161-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objective: Although its roots go back centuries, there is still a demand for traditional medicine practices and it is important to know the opinion of the society and healthcare professionals about the subject. Our study aims to determine the attitudes of healthcare professional and non-healthcare hospital staff about traditional medicine.Material-Method: A two-stage questionnaire, a demographic information section, and the Complementary, Alternative, and Conventional Medicine Attitudes Scale (CACMAS) was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data.Results: A total of 681 staff of nine public and private hospitals participated in the study. 65.4% (n=439) of the participants were healthcare professionals, 34.6% (n=232) were non-healthcare professionals. The mean scores of the healthcare professional respondents were 92.6 (±16.7), of the non-healthcare professional respondents were 126.1 (±11.7).Conclusion: In our study, it was found that healthcare professionals' attitudes towards traditional medicine practices were more negative than non-healthcare professionals. However, as according to the current legislation in many countries around the world, only physicians who receive standard training and other healthcare professionals under their supervision are authorized to perform traditional medicine practices in Turkey. As a result of our study, it was determined that the attitudes of healthcare professionals and other segments of the society should be observed about traditional medicine practices and that measures should be taken to bring together the supply and demand for traditional medicine on a legal basis.

Background Trachyspermum ammi (T. ammi) holds a longstanding position in traditional medicinal practices, renowned for its diverse medicinal and pharmacological attributes. Medicinal plants not only offer significant therapeutic benefits but also hold economic importance. A noteworthy trait of phytomedicine lies in its low toxicity, which positively impacts the pharmaceutical market. Hence, traditional practices often incorporate detoxification/purification methods to mitigate the toxicity of herbs. Objectives Aimed at scientifically validating these practices, our study explores the traditional detoxification method known as Sodhana and assessing its Influence on T ammi. Materials and Methods We evaluate the antimicrobial, phytochemical, heavy metal content and anti-inflammatory efficacy of detoxified T ammi seeds. Results The seeds undergo lime treatment, followed by grinding into powder and extraction with 90% ethanol. Our antimicrobial study reveals that lime-treated ethanol extract exhibits robust inhibitory activity against various microbial strains, surpassing the unprocessed extract in most cases. Notably, significant reductions in heavy metal content are observed post-lime treatment, particularly in titanium, indium, bismuth, strontium, lead, aluminum, boron, mercury, and cadmium. Phytochemical analyses via ICP/OES, GC-MS and LC-MS demonstrate alterations in compound compositions between unprocessed and lime-treated extracts, with the latter exhibiting elevated levels of thymol and fatty acids. Furthermore, our investigation highlights the considerable anti-inflammatory potential of lime-treated T ammi seed extracts. Conclusion In conclusion, our findings emphasize the efficacy of lime treatment in reducing toxic elements while enhancing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, thus advocating for its utilization in traditional herbal practices.

In India, traditional medicine practices were followed for centuries. Tirunelveli district were located in south Tamil Nadu has very strong background on traditional practices particularly during postnatal care in which medicinal plants play a major role. The indigenous practices have herbal formulations, traditional dietary practices, external application that are exclusively used during postnatal care to strengthen mother health and spiritual aspects of wellbeing. The results obtained from the study manifested the use of medicinal plants in south Indian traditional medicine practice in postnatal care.

Ponte Academic JournalNov 2020, Volume 76, Issue 11 A TRANSCONTINENTAL COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE PRACTICES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF FRACTURES: THE CASE OF ZULU MEDICINE (SOUTH AFRICA) AND MAORI MEDICINE (NEW ZEALAND)Author(s): Nireshnee Ramchundar ,Manimbulu NlootoJ. Ponte - Nov 2020 - Volume 76 - Issue 11 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2020.11.17 Abstract:Despite the historical marginalization of traditional health practitioners in both South Africa and New Zealand, traditional medicine practices are still thriving. Many countries have made great efforts to advance traditional medicine practices by regulating, researching and integrating its products, practitioners and practice into health systems, while improving access to and the rational use of traditional medicines. The comparison of traditional practices between the two countries would give us an affirmation in the absence of clinical trials from which we may recommend strategies and ideas for the improvement of health systems. Additionally, we would be able to identify plant species used as herbal medicines for the treatment of fractures on two continents. A survey was conducted among herbalists (Izinyanga) practising Zulu traditional medicine in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Māori practitioners who are experts in medicine and healing (Tohunga-Rongoā), in the North Island of New Zealand. Data was collected by a survey and a moderator with a single focus group of three traditional health practitioners, resulting in qualitative research on their practices between October 2018 and September 2019. An analysis of findings was conducted to affirm similarities and differences in traditional health practices on two continents. Except for a few differences in demographics, the traditional management of fractures by traditional health practitioners in South Africa and New Zealand were largely similar. Practitioners in both countries identified fractures following taking a history of the trauma and conducting a physical examination when a patient presents with open fractures (visibly broken bones), acute pain, inflammation and bleeding. In both countries, traditional health practitioners do not seem to practice traditional bone-setting any longer, though they continue to use a wide range of traditional medicines (mostly derived from plants, with a few animal products) to manage bruises, wounds, dislocations, sprains, strains and fractures. The topical treatment of traditional medicines from several known plant families was preferred in New Zealand, whereas in South Africa oral treatment options were preferred. In total, 74 traditional medicines from 26 plant families with presumed fracture-healing activity were identified in this study. The chemical compositions and biological activities of the plant families Rubiaceae (Pentanisia prunelloides in South Africa and Coprosma robusta in New Zealand) and Xanthorrhoeaceae (Aloe ferox in South Africa and Phormium tenax in New Zealand), found on both continents, are recommended to be studied further. Traditional health practitioners are aware of the serious impact that fractures could have on a patient, and while traditional remedies do assist in healing, they are open to using Western medicines for analgesia and as anti-inflammatories should their patients choose this treatment option. Furthermore, they often referred patients to hospitals for a more accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment which shows that there is already integration and collaboration between traditional health practitioners and biomedically-trained health professionals in the management of fractures. Traditional health practitioners believed that an interventional tool for the treatment/management of fractures would be beneficial in their practices in traditional settings. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password