Traditional Medicine: A Global Perspective / Edition 1

by Steven B. Kayne

Overview

Almost 20 years ago the World Health Organization estimated that 'In many countries, 80% or more of the population living in rural areas are cared for by traditional practitioners and birth attendants'. It has since revised its view, adopting a rather safer position, now stating: 'most of the population of most developing countries regularly use traditional medicine'. Whereas most people use traditional medicine in developing countries, only a minority have regular access to reliable modern medical services. Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America use traditional medicine (TM) to help meet some of their primary health care needs. In Africa, up to 80% of the population uses traditional medicine for primary health care. In industrialized countries, adaptations of traditional medicine are termed "Complementary" or "Alternative" (CAM). Over one-third of the population in developing countries lack access to essential medicines. The provision of safe and effective Traditional Medicine therapies could become a critical tool to increase access to health care.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780853698333
Publisher:	The Pharmaceutical Press
Publication date:	12/01/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	331
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

Preface vii

About the editor ix

Contributors x

1 Introduction to traditional medicine Steven Kayne 1

2 Traditional European folk medicine Owen Davies 25

3 Aboriginal/traditional medicine in North America: a practical approach for practitioners John K Crellin 44

4 Traditional medicine used by ethnic groups in the Colombian Amazon tropical forest, South America Blanca Margarita Vargas de Corredor Ann Mitchell (Simpson) 65

5 Traditional medical practice in Africa Gillian Scott 82

6 Traditional Chinese medicine Steven Kayne Tony Booker 119

7 Indian ayurvedic medicine Steven Kayne 195

8 Japanese kampo medicine Haruki Yamada 225

9 Korean medicine Seon Ho Kim Bong-Hyun Kim Il-Moo Chang 257

10 Traditional medicines in the Pacific Rosemary Beresford 270

11 Traditional Jewish medicine Kenneth Collins 293

Index 317

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Barbara Giacomelli, PharmD, MBA, FASHP (McKesson Provider Technologies)
Description: This is a compilation of natural therapies from around the world, organized by area.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a comprehensive international reference of traditional medicine. The book explores the history of traditional medicine in various countries, but it is more than just a discussion of different traditional medicine agents, covering religious and cultural information as well.
Audience: It is written at a level appropriate for students by a variety of experts in the field.
Features: This book covers the history of various forms of natural therapies, focusing on key areas internationally. There are charts outlining various agents and photographs. It is easy to follow and appropriately indexed.
Assessment: The book provides an overview of traditional medicine, its history and current uses. There are other herbal therapy references that focus on the agents, but this one provides more of the background, internationally, of traditional medicine.

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