Traditional & Complementary Medicine

Throughout history, people in all countries and cultures have used traditional healers, home remedies and ancient medicinal knowledge in many parts of the world. A large bulk of information on healing effects has been reported, but despite scant hard evidence on efficacy, Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) is widely used to cure and prevent conditions in India, China, Thailand among others.

Policymakers, health professionals and the public are discussing mixed services the safety, effectiveness, and regulation of T&CM in mixed health services. Examples fo integrative medicine are abundant.

To date, some health insurers are refunding patients’ bills on T&CM reflecting confidence on its positive effects on health and wellbeing (e.g. acupuncture for lower back pain, or yoga for stress related ailments).

Our Approach

We will identify and contribute to the process of integrative medicine by building evidence on T&CM effectiveness and further incorporation into PHC programs.

We facilitate work with partners to enrich the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023 to help health care leaders develop solutions that contribute to a broader vision of improved health and patient autonomy.

Under development:

Ancient Therapeutic Thai Massage and Medicine

TRAVEL NOTES

I was speechless to enter the Wat Po (Temple of the Bodhi Tree) in Bangkok for the first time. Further, I had the pleasure to meet and study Ancient Therapeutic Thai massage with Prof Healer Pichest Boonthumme, from Chiang Mai. His devotion and mastering of healing are just amazing!

Earlier accounts of the Ancient Therapeutic Thai Massage and Medicine have clearly shown its Indian origin, probably in the 3-2 centuries BC, around the same time when the Buddhism reached Thailand. The stretching techniques used mimic those of the Indian Yoga philosophy stimulating the flow of Prana on the meridians, or energy lines, a technique called Nuad Thai, referring to loosening paths.

This is said to stimulate the second body (energy body) and to produce wellness, pain relief, and relaxation. The map of the lines, found in the 17 Century in Medical Scriptures in Pali Language on banana leaves, were carved in stone plates at the great Wat Pho in Bangkok.

Andres de Francisco

Chiang Mai, 1994-95

The Wat Pho Epigraphic Archives is a unique collection of 1,431 stone inscriptions in Thai language and scripts made in 1831-1841 on both religious and secular subjects, representing a wide range of Thai knowledge of Asian and local roots of the time in the context of over five centuries of global exchanges in trade, politics and culture.

It was a conscious effort by King Rama III and Thai scholars to preserve and make them visible to the public with the aim in general education on cultural heritage, diversity and civilizations. The Epigraphics were selected as UNESCO heritage objects for humanity in 2011.

Amazon Medicinal Secrets

Let’s Work Together

Share with us your ideas, proposals and comments!

My two years of rural medical practice in the Amazonas basin in Colombia taught me a lot. Living in the jungle changes your perception of time, sense of nature, health and disease.

Traditional and Complimentary Medicine has had long historical roots around the globe and was present well before modern medicine was established. Bridging both in the contemporary realities is beneficial.

I used to visit a local indigenous Mamo far from my hospital to better understand his way to work and assess his accuracy. Once we came across a young girl with a clear skin infection spread on her leg, a clear case of Erysipella. Using his traditional knowledge passed from father to son and recognising the disease and the cure, the Mamo collected and placed bunches of leaves from locally available plants on her leg. I noticed they happened to be covered a with white mould, which for me this was a natural mix of penicillin nostatum, the fungus accidentally identified in 1928 by Dr Alexander Fleming as the source of a potent antibiotic- the Penicillin. I was ready to offer treatment with an injection if the girl would not get better, but this was not needed as she improved by the next morning.

Andres de Francisco

Miraflores, Cuenca del Amazonas 1983-84

It is therefore exciting that Governments around the world have redoubled the interest to work on practical solutions to strengthen health systems and services with an integrative approach to health. In 2023, the World Health Organization convened the first Traditional Medicine Global Summit in India in which 88 country representations participated. High in the list were India, China, Australia, and countries of the Americas including Canada, Colombia, and Brasil.

While the traditional medicine approach goes well beyond medicines into a respectful balance of body, mind and the spirit and a balanced approach to nature. We can only improve health services with a fair, integrative approach.