Traditional Medicine

By Harishankar Sahu

What is traditional medicine?

WHO defines traditional medicine as including diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal, and/or mineral based medicines, manual techniques and exercises which can be used to maintain well-being, as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness.

Traditional Medicine

Main Popular System of TM/CAM

Indian Ayurveda MedicineArabic Unani MedicineHomeopathyChiropractic Traditional Chinese Medicine

Categories of TM

Medication Non-medication

Populations using TM worldwidePopulations in developing countries using traditional medicine for primary health care

60%

60%

70%

70%

70%

90%Ethiopia 90%Benin 70%India 70%Rwanda 70%Tanzania 60%Uganda 60%

Populations in developed countries who have used complementary and alternative medicine at least once

42%

48%

75%

70%

80%

Canada 70%

Australia 48%France 75%

USA 42%

Germany 80%

Traditional medicines in India

42%

48%

75%

70%

80%

Homeopathy 7%

Unani 4%Sidhha 4%

Ayurvedic 85%

Global Market Total global herbal market1 is of size 62.0 billion dollars, in this

India’s contribution is only one billion dollars. The table in annexure 5 explains the position of India in the global market.

The forecast is that the global market for herbal products is expected to be $5 Trillion by 2050. Herbal remedies would become increasingly important especially in developing countries. India, with its biodiversity has a tremendous potential and advantage in this emerging area.

Asian european union

North America Japan0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Global Market

Many challenges need to be met for potential of traditional

medicine to be fully realizedPolicy and regulationGovernment policy and national

regulations vary

Only 45 of 191 WHO Member States have a national policy for TM/CAM

Only 54 of 191 WHO Member States regulate herbal medicines

Conclusion

It is long way to go...

but… Traditional Medicine will contribute to human health care in the 21st century;

There are many challenges to the safety and effective use of traditional medicine;

The WHO Strategy will meet the gaps and challenges;