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World Health Organisation - facts about traditional healing
Traditional and alternative medicine
• Up to 80% of people in the south use traditional or complementary/alternative medicine (TM/CAM) as part of primary health care.
• Traditional medicine has been fully integrated into the health systems of China, North and South Korea and Viet Nam.
• In western countries, growing numbers of patients rely on alternative
medicine for preventive or palliative care:
In France, 75% of the population has used complementary medicine at least
once
In Germany, 77% of pain clinics provide acupuncture
• The global market for traditional therapies stands at US$60billion a year and is steadily growing
• In the USA, expenditure on complementary or alternative medicine stands at US$2.7 billion per year
• About 25% of modern medicines are descended from plants first used traditionally
• The Chinese herbal remedy Artemisia annua has been found to be effective against resistant malaria and could give hope of preventing many of the 800,000 deaths among children from severe malaria each year
• The efficacy of acupuncture in relieving pain and nausea has been well established
• Convincing evidence shows that therapies such as hypnosis and relaxation techniques can alleviate anxiety, panic disorders and insomnia
• Other studies have shown that yoga can reduce asthma attacks while tai ji techniques can help the elderly reduce their fear of falls
• In Africa, North America and Europe, three out of four people living with HIV/AIDS use some form of traditional or complementary treatment for various symptoms and conditions
• In South Africa, studies on the plant Sutherlandia microphylla show efficacy in increasing energy, appetite and body mass in people living with HIV
• Asia and Pacific Australia - Traditional Chinese medicine has been practised in Australia since the 19th century Approximately AU$ 1 billion is spent on complementary/alternative medicine
• Bhutan - More than 2990 medicinal plants are used in Bhutanese traditional medicines. About 70% of raw materials for herbal preparations are available in the country. There are more than 300 herbal products produced in Bhutan
• China - Traditional Chinese medicine is fully integrated into China's health system. 95% of Chinese hospitals have units for traditional medicine. Traditional medicine accounts for 30-50% of total consumption. There are 800 manufacturers of herbal products with a total annual output of US$ 1.8 billion
• India - Ayurveda, siddha and unani systems of medicine have coexisted with yoga, naturopathy and homeopathy for centuries. Traditional medicine is widely used in India, particularly in rural areas, where 70% of the population lives. 2860 Indian hospitals provide traditional Indian medicine
• Indonesia - 40% of Indonesia's population uses traditional medicine; 70% in rural areas. At the end of 1999, there were 723 manufacturers of traditional medicines, 92 of which were large-scale industries.
• Japan - In 2000 the herbal medicine market in Japan was worth US$ 2.4 billion. An October 2000 survey showed that 72% of registered western-style doctors use kampo medicine (the Japanese adaptation of Chinese medicine) in their clinical services
• Thailand - Thai traditional medicine draws from Chinese and Indian traditions. In 1993, Thailand established the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. By 1999, Thai traditional medicine was integrated into the facilities of 1120 health centres
• Viet Nam - Traditional and oriental medicines are fully integrated into Viet Nam's health system. 30% of patients receive treatment with traditional medicine. The Viet Nam National Association of Acupuncture has 18,000 members, 4500 of whom work in public hospitals
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