Use and efficacy of herbal medicines: Part 1 - historical and traditional use

摘要

TRADITIONAL medicine is defined by the World Health Organization as "the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences [of] different cultures that are used to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses".It is estimated that 70 to 95 per cent of the populations in developing countries depend on traditional medicine to meet their primary healthcare needs, and most traditional treatments make use of plants and crude extracts.2 In addition to maintaining its popularity in regions of the developing world, adapted versions of traditional medicine are increasing in popularity in industrialised countries. Immigrant populations are also known to use a large number of supplements and medicines derived from their regions of origin.3 Where traditional medicine has been adopted by other countries, outside its native culture, it is usually considered part of complementary and alternative medicine, for example Ayurvedic or traditional Chinese medicine in the UK.