Traditional medicine

Traditional medicine(also known as indigenous or folk medicine) describes medical knowledge systems, which developed over centuries within various societies before the era of modern medicine. Practices known as traditional medicines include herbal, Ayurvedic, Unani, Ancient Iranian, Siddha, Islamic and traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Muti, Ifá, and other medical knowledge and practices all over the globe.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as:

the health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.^[1]

Some Asian and African countries up to 80% of the population relies on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. When adopted outside of its traditional culture, traditional medicine is often called complimentary and alternative medicine. Herbal medicines can be very lucrative, generating billions of dollars in sales, but adulteration or counterfeit herbs can also be a health hazard.^[1]

The WHO also notes, though, that "inappropriate use of traditional medicines or practices can have negative or dangerous effects" and that "further research is needed to ascertain the efficacy and safety" of several of the practices and medicinal plants used by traditional medicine systems.^[1] Core disciplines which study traditional medicine include ethnomedicine, ethnobotany, and medical anthropology.