Traditional Medicine And Complementary Alternative Medicine

If we are talking herbal medicine, there are 3 related terms in it namely, folk remedies, native medicine, and natural medicinal ingredients. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as a native medicine in a country that is used hereditary in that country or another country. Folk remedies must meet the criteria among others already used for at least three generations and have been proven safe and beneficial.

The original remedy is a medicine whose potion comes from nature, the way it is made, the proof of its efficacy, its safety, and the way it is used based on the traditional knowledge of the inhabitants of an area. While natural medicine is all medicine made from natural materials that in the process of making it is not yet a pure isolate. Natural medicine can be a native medicine, folk remedies, or the development of both.

Traditional medicine relies more on the nature of hereditary inheritance although it has now evolved on scientific proof, the scientific basis used from rational to irrational. This causes people who use traditional medicine to be more thorough in choosing the type and method of treatment.

Closed properties make it difficult to develop, making it difficult for outsiders to accept. The mechanism of action is not always clear, so sometimes it is difficult to expect the same results if the treatment is repeated. But as a treatment age, more empirical evidence is obtained.

This can be a valuable provision for the scientific testing phase. Traditional medicine also has a more holistic approach, between body, mind, and soul. This last point is often considered an advantage of traditional medicine.

The acceptance of countries in the world to traditional medicine systems is diverse. Based on the criteria issued by who, there are 3 systems that apply.

1. Integrative systems

The intent of the integrative system is that the state already recognizes the existence of traditional medicine. This encourages the use of traditional medicine in hospitals, insurance, and research institutes. There are standard rules governing the production system, regulation, and supervision of folk remedies. The countries that adhere to this system are China, Vietnam, and Korea.

2. Inclusive System

Traditional medicine is already recognized but has not been integrated into the national health service. The system is usually embraced by developed countries such as Canada, the UK, and Germany.

3. Tolerant system

The state still embraces conventional health care, but the use of traditional medicine is not prohibited. It is this system that is currently the most embraced by countries in the world.

Traditional Medicine Africa

According to data from the WHO, nearly 80% of Africa's population uses traditional medicine in their lives. This figure is also almost balanced in Asia and Latin America. In China, the consumption of folk remedies to treat diseases reaches 50%. In San Francisco, London, and South Africa, 75% of PEOPLE with HIV/AIDS use complementary medicine because the medical treatment does little to give hope.

About 70% of Canadians at least once in their lifetime use folk remedies. In Germany, a country famous for its homeopathy tradition, nearly 90% of the population has used herbal remedies for medicinal purposes in their daily lives.