Traditional Medicine (in Developing Countries): Intrinsic Value and Relevance for Holistic Health Care

Abstract

Traditional medicine is used in both isolated rural areas as well as where allopathic medicine is easily available. Medical pluralism, the use of more than one health care resource, appears a universal phenomenon. ‘Traditional medicine’ can not be thought of as a unified entity but is used to describe a whole range of healing practices, however, substantial evidence exists testifying to the efficacy of much of such different practices, albeit iatrogenesis is a concern relevant to traditional as well as allopathic health care. It is proposed that collaboration between allopathic and traditional medicine (which is encouraged as part of the primary health care approach) is important not only because of the efficacy and wide use of traditional medicine, but also for its potential of improving both allopathic and traditional practice toward the ultimate purpose of improving health by developing a more holistic approach to health care. Some obstacles to the possibilities for collaboration as well as for the imp...