Does Traditional Medicine Work? What the Evidence Can and Cannot Say
Whether traditional medicine works depends on the specific remedy, the condition and the comparison. Examples show what was tested, what was found and how strong the evidence is.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Quick answer
"Traditional medicine" is not one treatment, so it has no single yes or no. Each herb, formula or practice has to be tested for a particular use, in a particular group of people, against a fair comparison. The World Health Organization (WHO) puts it this way: establishing efficacy and safety through rigorous scientific validation is crucial, even if a traditional medicine has been used for a long period. [1]
This page gives examples from different traditions, so you can see how different the answers are. It does not rank traditions. For the reasoning behind each label, see why a long history of use is not proof and historical use vs clinical evidence.
Examples, from strongest to weakest evidence
Labels: established, promising but limited, insufficient evidence, no good evidence of benefit over a sham, evidence of harm. They describe the specific use in the middle column, not the whole tradition.| Example | What the sources found | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Artemisinin for malaria (a purified drug, not the plant) | Tu Youyou screened herbal remedies and revisited old texts for clues before extracting the active compound. [2] WHO says artemisinin-based combination therapy is the most effective treatment for P. falciparum malaria. [3] | Established, as a drug |
| St. John's wort for mild or moderate depression | NCCIH says it appears more effective than placebo and as effective as standard antidepressants, but this is uncertain for severe depression. It can interact dangerously with many medicines. [4] | Promising but limited, with major interaction risk |
| Acupuncture for back, neck and knee pain | A 2018 review found it more effective than sham acupuncture, but the gap versus no treatment was bigger than the gap versus sham. [5] | Promising but limited |
| Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome | A 2019 review of 41 studies found it no more effective than sham acupuncture. [5] | No good evidence of benefit over sham |
| Pelargonium sidoides (Umckaloabo) for acute respiratory infections | A Cochrane review found possible symptom relief, but the quality of evidence was low to very low and publication bias was suspected. [6] | Promising but limited |
| Chinese herbal medicine for vascular dementia | 47 studies with 3,581 participants, all in China. Reporting was generally poor, and the authors found moderate to very low quality evidence of both benefit and harm. [7] | Insufficient evidence |
| Chinese herbal medicine for PCOS-related infertility | Eight trials, 609 participants. Certainty was very low for most comparisons and no trial reported live birth. [8] | Insufficient evidence |
| Maoto (a Kampo formula) for flu symptoms | Twelve studies, but small and at high risk of bias, so no definitive conclusion was possible. [9] | Insufficient evidence |
| Herbs containing aristolochic acid | Plant material containing aristolochic acid, used because of species misidentification, caused severe kidney failure in several countries. [10] | Evidence of harm |
What "insufficient evidence" means
It does not mean a remedy is useless or proven fake. It means the trials we have cannot tell us either way. Cochrane authors reviewing Chinese herbs for dementia and herbs for low back pain both called for better designed and better reported trials. [7] [11]Why the answer is often unclear
- Most research money goes elsewhere. WHO says less than 1 percent of global health research funding is currently dedicated to traditional medicine. [1]
- Some practices are hard to test. WHO notes wide variability in practices such as acupuncture and yoga, and says randomized trials are extremely difficult if not impossible, so new methods are needed. [1]
- Trial quality varies. See quality of research on traditional medicines for the common problems.
- Products vary. The same name on a label can hold different plants, amounts or contaminants. NCCIH reports Chinese herbal products found with undeclared drugs, heavy metals and incorrect herbs. [12]
Where traditional medicine has led to proven drugs
Some medicines in use today began with plants used in traditional medicine, such as artemisinin and willow bark's link to aspirin. The drug that results is tested and purified; it is not an endorsement of the original herb. See drugs with traditional origins.What to do with this
If you are thinking about a traditional remedy, ask what it was tested for and compare it with what you want it for. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about anything you take, because herbs can interact with prescribed medicines. [4] Do not stop or swap a prescribed medicine on your own. For help reading a specific study, see how to read a traditional medicine study.Related pages
Reviews of traditional medicine by tradition, WHO reports and guidance and what traditional healing systems are.Frequently asked questions
Does traditional medicine work?
It depends on the specific remedy and use. Some have good evidence, some have low-certainty evidence, and some have documented harm. [1] [7]
Is a remedy proven if it has been used for centuries?
No. WHO says scientific validation of efficacy and safety is crucial even for medicines used for a long period. [1]
If a drug came from a plant, does the plant work too?
Not automatically. Artemisinin is a purified drug used in combination therapy, and WHO's malaria fact sheet names those combinations, not the plant, as the most effective treatment. [3]
Is the placebo effect the reason some traditional treatments seem to work?
Sometimes it may contribute. NCCIH defines the placebo effect as a beneficial outcome from the person's anticipation that an intervention will help, which is why sham or placebo comparisons matter. [13]
Can natural or traditional products be harmful?
Yes. WHO guidance states that some medicinal plants are inherently toxic, and herbal medicines are expected to have side effects like any medicine. [10]
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.