How does traditional medicine work

The document calls on member states to develop health-care facilities for traditional medicine, to ensure that insurance companies and reimbursement systems consider supporting traditional medicines and to promote education in the practices. Nature ran a similar paid-for supplement in But many Western physicians and scientists doubt that the herbal remedies and various other components of TCM or other traditional medicines have much to offer in their current use.

They grant that TCM herbs might turn up useful molecules many Western drugs are derived from plants, after all , but worry that TCM could replace proven drugs or be potentially dangerous. Arthur Grollman, a cancer researcher at Stony Brook University in New York, has published work showing how aristolochic acid, an ingredient in many TCM remedies, can cause kidney failure and cancer 3.

He thinks that WHO documents should pay more attention to the risks of remedies that contain the chemical, which are still widely used. But the agency does not say which traditional medicines and diagnostics are proven. The agency gives member countries specific advice on what vaccines and drugs to use and what foods to avoid. With traditional medicines, however, the specifics are mostly omitted. The WHO website carries some warnings and states that aristolochic acid is a carcinogen.

But with the repeated emphasis on integrating traditional medicine, the message is clear, says Marcus. Nature tried to contact Chan multiple times through the WHO, but the agency says that she is not answering questions on matters related to the WHO.

Peto says that Chapter 26 could help researchers to gather data on adverse reactions and what kinds of traditional treatments people are getting. For those steeped in Western medicine, the continued spread of traditional treatments is worrisome. TCM practitioners increasingly talk of replacing proven Western medicines with traditional substitutes, where there is a cost advantage. Grollman thinks that ICD is heading in that direction.

Seventy per cent of money spent on health care globally is reimbursed or allocated on the basis of ICD information. Now TCM will be part of that system. Manheimer, E. PubMed Article Google Scholar. Chan, M. Science , S2 Google Scholar. Grollman, A. Article Google Scholar. Download references. News 12 NOV News 11 NOV World View 09 NOV News Explainer 10 NOV News 04 NOV News Feature 03 NOV Outlook 02 DEC Outlook 18 NOV Acupuncture for tension-type headache.

Rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in carpal tunnel syndrome with acupuncture. Acupuncture for peripheral joint osteoarthritis. Tai chi chuan improves functional capacity after myocardial infarction: a randomized clinical trial. American Heart Journal. Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine. Vickers AJ, Linde K. Acupuncture for chronic pain.

Tai chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. What do we really know about the safety of tai chi? A systematic review of adverse event reports in randomized trials. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Traditional Chinese medicine: an update on clinical evidence. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Efficacy of tai chi on pain, stiffness and function in patients with osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis.

Tai chi exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized clinical trial. Other References. J ournal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Ernst E. Acupuncture—a critical analysis.

Journal of Internal Medicine. AHRQ publication no. A comprehensive review of health benefits of qigong and tai chi. American Journal of Health Promotion. Evidence from the Cochrane Collaboration for traditional Chinese medicine therapies. A review of clinical trials of tai chi and qigong in older adults. Western Journal of Nursing Research.

Acupuncture for patients with chronic neck pain. Share Email Facebook Twitter. For Consumers Herbs at a Glance. Traditional Medicine. Tuberculosis TB. Countries All Countries ». News from countries. Namibia's Health Sector responding to violence against women and girls. Polio Surveillance in Namibia. Health workers leaving no stone unturned, responding to mental health cases in the Northeast. Namibia aiming to eliminate malaria through eco-friendly preventive strategies.