Sunday, August 08, 2010

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE VERSES CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE…


A thought came in mind after looking through the patent. And these things are more realized once we came out from boundaries. Every country has different rules and regulation. Tough thing is to come out from it. Recently I am going through the company official procedure etc etc. made me think on this issue.
Traditional medicine is widely practiced in most countries and areas. The market for traditional medicine products in the Region has expanded significantly over the past decade. More and more governments in the Region have taken or plan to take actions to promote the proper use of traditional medicine and to ensure the safety of users of traditional medicine.

Traditional medicine is the knowledge, skills and practice of holistic health care, recognized And accepted for its role in the maintenance of health and the treatment of diseases. It is based on Indigenous theories, beliefs and experiences that are handed down from generation to generation. Traditional medicine is practiced in many countries, but it is not always included as part of the Health system recognized by the government. It is one of many types of non-standard health services which involve varying levels of training and efficacy. The difference between the origins and nature of more recent forms of alternative medicine and traditional medicine is often not well understood. In some health systems all these therapies, including traditional medicine, are collectively termed "Complementary", "alternative" or "non-conventional medicine".

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely accepted as including both traditional Medicine and more recent forms of non-standard medicine. A recent modification of the well-known Cochrane definition described CAM as including: "all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Boundaries within CAM an between the CAM domain and that of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed". The same defined "mainstream medicine" as the "usual method of treating disease” and "orthodox" medicine as "that thought in the majority of university medical schools”.

Developing standards and regulations for training in and practice of traditional medicine, broadening research so that it encompasses its holistic nature, maximizing the economic potential of traditional medicine, and developing policies and programmes that ensure that traditional medicine benefits the people who need it most are formidable challenges facing traditional medicine.Traditional medicine has an established promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative role. It can be the main form of health care, or an integrated component of mainstream health care, or an alternative or complement to the main form of health care.

Some traditional systems of medicine are highly developed and well documented. They are based on systematized knowledge, a comprehensive methodology and rich clinical experienc Traditional Indian medicine & Traditional Chinese medicine falls into this category. Traditional Chinese medicine originated in China and was introduced to neighboring countries, such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam and others, which then developed their own variations. Traditional Indian medicine is another well-developed and practiced in different regions as well.
In most of this system the knowledge is never written down and is transmitted orally from generation to generation. Most practitioners do not obtain knowledge through an organized training process. The therapies used by different healers from different communities and islands can be quite
different. Even the same plants may be used for different conditions and purposes. In these communities, psychosocial therapies tend to predominate, and often merge with magical and religiouspractices.
It is impossible to have only one approach, one model or one set of standards to deal with all
the different traditional systems of medicine in the Region. Since the introduction of modern medicine into the countries of the Region, traditional medicine has in most cases been rejected by mainstream health services. Nevertheless, traditional medicine still exists in all countries. It provides an alternative option for people living in developed countries, while for a large part of the population in many developing countries it is the only available, affordable and accessible health service. Although there is a lack of reliable regional data on usage of traditional medicine, studies from several countries and areas in the Region have shown that it is used extensively.

Different reasons bring consumers to traditional medicine. Cultural beliefs may still be the major reason for using traditional medicine. However, people living in rural and remote areas in developing countries often seek first line health service from traditional systems of medicine because they are the only available and affordable form of health care. Some patients may go to traditional medicine after unsatisfactory treatment from modern medicine. In all these cases, the effectiveness of traditional medicine and consumer satisfaction with services plays an important role in maintaining and increasing public interest in traditional medicine. Traditional medicine and traditional health education, including methods of traditional exercise, make significant contributions to promoting health and improving quality of life in many communities.
Although traditional medicine plays an important role as a first line health service, in some cases, it may cause delay in obtaining treatment by a medical professional. Some cases are also beyond the knowledge and capability of traditional medicine practitioners. Practice models vary. In some countries, including China, Japan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam, traditional medicine is practiced not only at the primary health care level but also in hospitals providing secondary and tertiary care. In other countries, traditional medicine is used mainly as family and community-based practice.

Some researchers are attempting to evaluate the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine, while others are engaged in research into new drugs and other products derived from plants. However, some health professionals still have doubts about the usefulness of traditional medicine. Many insist on more scientifically-based evidence if they are to trust its safety and effectiveness. Unfortunately, the different philosophical backgrounds of traditional and modern medicine make it difficult for one system to judge the other. Since the introduction of modern medicine in the Region, a gap has opened between practitioners of traditional and modern medicine.

To be continued…

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