Role Of Traditional Medicine Research Articles

Integration of traditional and complementary medicine into national health care systems

The growth of complementary and alternative medicine in the Far East is discussed. The role of traditional medicine in the development of health care in Asia is presented, and integration of traditional and modern methods of health care are described.

Is there a role for traditional medicine in basic health services in Africa? A plea for a community perspective.

Traditional medicine in Africa is contrasted with biomedicine. Most traditional medical theories have a social and religious character and emphasize prevention and holistic features. Traditional medical practices are usually characterized by the healer's personal involvement, by secrecy and a reward system. Biomedical theory and practice show an almost opposite picture: asocial, irreligious, curative and organ-directed; professional detachment, public knowledge and-until recently-'free of charge'. It is suggested that local communities do not expect that basic health care will improve when traditional healers become integrated into the service. They ask instead for improvement of basic health care itself: more services with better access, more dedication and respect from doctors and nurses, more medicines and personnel. Fieldwork needs to be done at the community level to arrive at a better understanding and assessment of the community's opinion concerning a possible role of traditional medicine in basic health care.

The Role of Traditional Medicine in the Treatment of Wound Healing

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineVol. 2, No. 3 GIFTS of Health Global RecommendationsThe Role of Traditional Medicine in the Treatment of Wound HealingPublished Online:27 Aug 2007https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.1996.2.447AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail "The Role of Traditional Medicine in the Treatment of Wound Healing." , 2(3), pp. 447–448FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byEffects of Plantago major L. leaf extracts on oral epithelial cells in a scratch assayJournal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 141, No. 3The healing and anti-scar effects of astragaloside IV on the wound repair in vitro and in vivoJournal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 139, No. 3In vitro growth stimulatory and in vivo wound healing studies on cycloartane-type saponins of Astragalus genusJournal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 134, No. 3 Volume 2Issue 3Sep 1996 InformationCopyright 1996, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.To cite this article:The Role of Traditional Medicine in the Treatment of Wound Healing.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.Sep 1996.447-448.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.1996.2.447Published in Volume: 2 Issue 3: August 27, 2007PDF download

Use of traditional and orthodox health services in urban Zimbabwe.

Health care in Zimbabwe is provided by both orthodox and traditional care providers. With formal medical services under economic strain it is important to understand the extent of consulting with traditional care providers and their effectiveness. A cross-sectional community survey recorded consultations and self-treatment for episodes of illness among 1251 individuals in 222 households randomly selected in two high-density suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwe. Three dependent variables (illness experience, consultation behaviour and choice of care provider) were analysed against a range of sociodemographic, episode-related and outcome measures. More than one-third of the sample had experienced an illness and 83% of these had led to consultation. Medical services were consulted eight times more often than traditional ones. Non-consulting behaviour was associated with lack of money or low perceived significance of problems. Physical problems were usually taken to medical clinics where their outcome was better, but non-specific pain and other problems did no better with medical or traditional care. While members of the community appear to recognize physical problems and take them to medical care, traditional and orthodox medical consultations appear to be equally effective for non-specific pain or non-specific physical problems. The role of traditional medicine in relation to non-specific physical problems and psychological problems is one which deserves further examination from both clinical and administrative perspectives. Poverty appears to be associated with poorer outcomes; this is a potentially important issue in times of increasing economic hardship.

Promoting traditional medicine in Ethiopia: A brief historical review of government policy

Past and current official policy toward Ethiopian traditional medicine is reviewed. To facilitate the objective assessment of official policy, the nature and historical origins of Ethiopian traditional medicine is examined briefly. It is noted that there is no single system of traditional medicine in Ethiopia, even though themes that are common to the many cultural groups constituting the society have been evolving. Common to most systems of Ethiopian traditional medicine are the interdigitation of ‘mystical’ and ‘natural’ explanations of ill-health and other misfortune and the holistic approach employed in dealing with illness and other personal misfortune. It is also noted that since the 1974 change of government in Ethiopia, official attitude toward the promotion and development of traditional medicine appears to have become more positive, especially, after the adoption of the Primary Health Care strategy in 1978. While this is true as far as official statements are concerned, in actual practice there continues to be considerable uncertainty about the interpretation and implementation of Government policy. It is suggested that misconceptions regarding the nature and role of traditional medicine in Ethiopian society will have to be corrected if appropriate plans and strategies are to be formulated.

Proposals for health services in northern Nigeria.

This paper outlines practical proposals for the implementation of primary health care in the Bodinga province of Nigeria. The inhabitants of Bodinga are Hausa Moslems, and their culture, religion, and traditional authority structure differ from those of other ethnic groups in Nigeria. The success of any health program in Bodinga is dependent upon careful consideration of these factors. The recommendations presented focus on 4 issues: community participation and the Hausa Islamic culture, health education, social services, and the potential role of traditional medicine. Given the Hausa culture's regard for traditional rulers, district and village heads should be converted 1st; they can then be used as instruments for the promotion of the basic health scheme. Community participation could be followed by a health education program aimed at the prevention of infectious diseases caused by an unclean environment and consumption of contaminated food. Female health inspectors can be used to advise villagers on child care and family planning. At present, there is no hospital or rural health center in Bodinga, and access roads connecting the villages are inadequate. Each village needs a small clinic and each district needs a rural health center or a hospital at each government headquarters. The basic health scheme requires staff that are locally trained and responsive to the needs and priorities of the community served. An official integration of traditional medical practitioners with modern medical personnel is advised. The Nigerian government must be involved, politically and financially, in this project.

2. Natural biological compounds traditionally used as pesticides and medicines

Although a knowledge of bioactive substances found in plants and used traditionally as pesticides and medicines is important, the value of these traditions is difficult to assess without having further information on the preparation and production of the active ingredients. An overview is presented on the role of traditional medicines in national development, and the present status of these medicines. In addition, information is presented on the plants that are traditionally used in pest control, together with a review of the main bioactive compounds in plants used traditionally as pesticides and medicines.

Les espèces végétales odorantes et la phytothérapie

AbstractAromatic plants have played an important role in traditional medicine from the earliest times. The aromatic medicinal plants can be classified into those (I) where the attractive odorous principle is reponsible for the pharmacological activity of the drug (or at least one of its activities). There are three chief groups of these: (a) antiseptics, (b) digestive agents (antispasmodics, secretion stimulants, carminatives, etc.); and (c) psychotropics. The second large group are (2) those plants in which the odorous principle is not responsible for the medicinal values. These can be subclassified into (a) plants either entire or odorous portions which are no longer used in pharmacy or have no activity recognized at the present time (such as Dianthus gallicus); and (b) plants whose drug form owes its activity to inodorous principles (for instance, quinine, sterols) even though the plant may be itself odorous (as Convallaria majalis).