What Are Some Examples Of Traditional Medicine?

Traditional medicines have long been a part of healing and wellness in many cultures. These practices are based on the use of natural substances such as herbs, minerals, animals, and plant products. The usage patterns, diagnosis, and treatment methods vary between different traditional medicines and cultures.

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In this article, we will consider some examples of traditional medicine, based on different people of the world. This is by no means all the traditional medicines in the world, but this will surely give you a sense of some examples of traditional medicines out there.

African traditional medicine (ATM)

African traditional medicine can be described as a system of practices that include herbalism and African spirituality, usually involving the use of diviners and midwives too. It’s a holistic approach to healthcare that has been used among African people.

Traditional African medicine tends to employ more natural remedies that Westerners might not be familiar with, such as roots, plants, and leaves from the earth’s surface.

Medicinal plants are useful in maternal and child health, as a source of essential drugs, for nutrition, and for common ailments. They can also improve our knowledge of endemic diseases and even help with mental health.

Here are some examples of medicinal plants of high value in Africa.

• Pelargonium Sidoides, “Umckaloabo in Zulus’ language”,
• Moringa Oleifera Lam, “Nené Badadji in creol”,
• And Grapple plant, also (Harpagophytum Procumbens), also known as”Devil’s claw”.

These is only to name a few and these plants are known in the scientific community as traditional medicine. There are many more we will consider in our future articles.

Ayurveda healing arts of India

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medical system, which takes into account the whole person. Treatment of specific illnesses and the maintenance of good health is approached through various methods, including meditation practice, diet, herbal preparations, and exercise.

Treatments include specific treatments for illness and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, as well as practicing meditation and reducing intake of certain foods.

Traditional herbalism in the Philippines

Herbalism is the use of plants, fungi, and other organisms in the practice of medicine. Herbalism has been practiced since ancient times. In the Philippines, herbalism is a way of life with a lot of traditional practices.

The Philippines’ native herbal medicines were first used by indigenous people and have been handed down from generation to generation.

The Filipinos have their own traditional herbal medicines that are not found anywhere else in the world. For example, kalamansi is a type of citrus fruit that is used for its sour taste and as an ingredient in many Filipino dishes such as adobo or sinigang.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient and holistic approach to healing that has been practiced in China for thousands of years. It is based on the theory that energy or life force, called Qi (or chi), circulates through the body along pathways called meridians.

The goal of traditional Chinese medicine is to keep your Qi flowing smoothly and in balance, so you can stay healthy.

Many other traditional Asian medicines are similar to traditional Chinese medicine but they also use other natural substances like herbs, roots, and leaves from plants.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that all aspects of life affect the health of an individual: mental state, and environmental factors such as:

• Pollution,
• Chemicals in the air we breathe,
• Water we drink,
• Diet,
• Physical activity levels,
• And emotions.

Traditional Korean medicine

Traditional Korean medicine refers to the forms of medicine that are practiced in Korea, which include Korean acupuncture, moxibustion, Korean herbal medicine, and bone setting. These types of treatments have been practiced since ancient times.

Korean acupuncture is a lesser-known alternative to its Western counterpart. While the West has long used needles to treat pain points, Korean acupuncture opts for using just four needles at most.

These needles are placed in five acupoints beneath the elbows and knees that are thought to influence various organs and body systems. This centuries-old practice is also found in many other Asian countries such as China and Japan.

One of the many traditional Korean methods of acupuncture is known as Saam. It is one of the more popular forms adopted by clinicians and educational institutions in Korea.

Siddha traditional medicine

Siddha medicine, also known as Indian traditional medicine, is one of the oldest systems of health care. It is deeply rooted in Tamil culture and has been practiced for over 1000 years. Siddha medicines are based on three teachings: Ayurveda, yoga, and tantra.

This system of medicine includes the use of herbs, minerals, and animal products to heal a person’s body from the inside out.

The word ‘Siddha’ comes from the Sanskrit word for accomplished or complete. The Siddha system is a holistic system of medicine that uses spiritual practices, alchemy, and mysticism.

Ancient Iranian medicine

The history of medicine in Persia is very long and full of scientific creativity. During the Iranian renaissance, scientists worked together to invent new innovations. Gundeshapur University was a key location where different civilizations met.

Traditional Persian Medicine is an umbrella term for alternative medicine in Iran. It focuses on managing lifestyle changes with the use of supplements and natural products to improve patients’ well-being.

Ancient Iranian medicine is one of the most sophisticated and successful systems of traditional medicine. It has been practiced for thousands of years and has been studied by many scholars.

Conclusion on some examples of traditional medicines

The components of traditional medicine are sometimes controversial but as vast as they are, there is something for everyone. Some popular practices include herbal remedies, therapeutic fasting, hydrotherapy, and therapeutic dieting.

Of course, you don’t necessarily need to know all of them in detail but it is good to have an idea about some of the examples of traditional medicine out there today.