Traditional Medicine (TM) as a term refers to a way of protecting and restoring health that existed before the arrival of modern medicine. As the term implies, the approaches to health belong to the traditions of each country, and have been handed down from generation to generation (WHO).
Traditional medicine has strong cultural and religious background and exists in different ways such as ethnic or tribal group, ritual or ceremonial practices, spiritual practices, diet or self-healing practices. Indigenous and local communities have been using traditional and indigenous knowledge for centuries under local laws, customs and traditions.
TM includes diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and belief 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, according to WHO.
Traditional healers are readily available, work as a member of close relatives or family members, capable of managing a diversity of health problems with locally available resources, and are the repository of this culture and science and the wealth of the nation. They are deeply rooted in the culture of Ayurveda.
Like in other developing countries, majority of people in Nepal continues to rely on this system of health care since time immemorial. Ayurveda and the other traditional medical wisdom and practices are prevalent in the community and are totally dependent on locally available medicinal herbs, knowledge, technology and their application.
The estimated number of these practitioners in Nepal is 400,000. And, traditional medicine in Nepal is based on Ayurveda.
Scientific research based on tests, observation and clinical results are possible in Western medicine. Modern medical people go by some objective parameters, which they can measure. But there are many things in traditional medicine, which cannot be measured. This is a problem of traditional medicine practices.
Traditional healers and their indigenous knowledge are being humiliated in the name of science. It should be kept in mind that modern medical system starts from the point of factors like time, energy and chemical, where as traditional medicine including Ayurveda starts from consciousness and cognition. There are lots of practically successful non-invasive therapies existing in different indigenous group. We cannot ignore them even these are far beyond of modern science to show in laboratory. Thus, to translate the traditional medical framework in modern medicine may not always be possible.
Ministry of Health has formed Nepal Ayurvedic Medicine Council (NAMC). This is regulatory and legislative body for Ayurvedic courses, manpower, institutions and traditional healers in Nepal. Council is responsible for developing a data bank of traditional healers, practitioners and their recipes.
Obviously, NAMC has much difficult and risky responsibilities. It is responsible for preservation, promotion and development of traditional healers and their knowledge. It has to identify skilled and person who has adequate knowledge and experience for medical practice to be enrolled in Council. But, identification of skilled, semiskilled and unskilled person is not easy because natural drugs have no or less adverse effect; so-called traditional healers therefore malpractice without adequate knowledge and long experience quacking any kind of diseases are possible to treat from them.
Every traditional healer should be enrolled into NAMC to practice traditional medicine. However, most of them are disagreeing with the NAMC since they need to be over fifty and continuing at least three consecutive previous generations as healer to be enrolled, according to the rules of Council.
Traditional Medicine is gaining popularity nationally and internationally, especially amongst the educated elite who are becoming aware of the limitations and hazard of modern medicine. If we see international scenario of health trends and demand of natural products, especially in developed countries, traditional medicine has a future. It has great potentialities to attract westerners who don’t hesitate to spend huge amount of money for health. Proper commercialisation of knowledge and its resources can play vital role to generate income for locals and support national economy. WHO has reported that every person in developed countries uses traditional/natural products at least once in their life.
Country should recognise indigenous healers and their knowledge as national wealth and respect them. Their role in national health care must be identified. Multidisciplinary organisation for formulation of national policies and strategies for research and utilisation of indigenous knowledge for health and well being are urgent need. Knowledge of traditional healers, their recipes, technologies, classical manuscripts etc must be documented, then should follow proper scientific intervention for evidence-based research. There is no exaggeration to say that herbal resources are real wealth and cultural-based century-old traditional medicine is wonderful heritage and real beauty of nation.
(By Bhupendra Nirajan. Published in June 2003 in The Kathmandu Post)
