What
is natural medicine?
Natural medicine is a medical system for treating diseases.
It is not symptom oriented, it is cause oriented; Natural medicine,
in all its modalities, is an holistic approach to health. It takes
into consideration physiological, psychological, spiritual, social,
environmental and lifestyle factors affecting health. It promotes
a healthy and balanced lifestyle as an important part of recovery.
It employs natural resources, proven safe and effective natural therapies
to speed the recovery process and to enhance self healing. It offers
well-being and prevention for healthy people; while offers recovery
and balance adjustment for patients and people who are in sub health
status.
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, spiritual therapies, manual
techniques and exercises applied singularly or in combination to maintain
well-being, as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness.
It
includes traditional Chinese medicine, Indian ayurveda and Arabic
unani medicine. A variety of indigenous traditional medicine systems
have also been developed throughout history by Asian, African, Arabic,
Native American, Oceanic, Central and South American and other cultures.
Influenced by factors such as history, personal attitudes and philosophy,
their practice may vary greatly from country to country and from
region to region.
Depending
on the therapies involved, Traditional medicine therapies can be
categorized as medication therapies — if they use herbal medicines,
animal parts and/or minerals, or non-medication therapies —if carried
out primarily without using medication, as in the case of acupuncture,
manual therapies, qigong, tai ji, thermal therapy, yoga, and other
physical, mental, spiritual and mind–body therapies.
In Africa,
Latin America, Southeast Asia and West Pacific, it is commonly known
as “Traditional medicine”, while in Europe, North America and
Australia, it is often known as “Complementary and Alternative
medicine”.
What
is Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?
The terms “complementary” and “alternative” (and sometimes
also “non-conventional” or “parallel”) are used to refer to a
broad set of health care practices that are not part of a country’s
own tradition, or not integrated into its dominant health care system.
The terms “traditional medicine”(TM) is often used
in Africa, Latin America, South-East Asia, and/or the Western Pacific,
whereas “complementary and alternative medicine” is often used
in Europe and/or North America (and Australia).
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy.
But many European countries define it and traditional Chinese medicine
in general as CAM, because they do not form part of their own health
care traditions. Similarly, since homeopathy and chiropractic systems
were developed in Europe in the 18th Century, after the introduction
of allopathic medicine, they are not categorized as TM systems nor
incorporated into the dominant modes of health care in Europe. Instead,
they are regarded as a form of CAM.
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