Traditional Healing: Frequently Asked Questions

What this page is

These are quick answers to questions we hear most about traditional healing. Each links to a fuller guide. This is information only and not medical advice. If you have a health problem, see a licensed clinician, and do not stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor. [1]

The basics

What is traditional medicine? WHO describes it as codified or non-codified systems for health care and well-being, made up of practices, skills, knowledge and philosophies from different historical and cultural settings, which pre-date biomedicine. [2] Read What Are Traditional Healing Systems?.

How widely is it used? A 2019 WHO report found it used in 170 countries. [3] See WHO and Traditional Medicine Worldwide.

Is "traditional" the same as "complementary" or "alternative"? No. Complementary means used together with conventional medicine, and alternative means used instead of it. [4] The glossary explains more terms.

Which traditions do you cover? Chinese, Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, Tibetan, Kampo, Korean, Greek and Persian, African, Latin American, Indigenous and Western herbal traditions, among others. See the index of traditions.

Does it work?

Is a long history proof? No. WHO says an evidence-based approach, establishing efficacy and safety through rigorous scientific validation, is crucial even if a practice has been used for a long period. [3] See Why "Used for Thousands of Years" Is Not Proof.

What does research say overall? It depends on the specific treatment. NCCIH says acupuncture and tai chi may help certain pain conditions and quality of life, while studies of Chinese herbal products have had mixed results and many were of poor quality. [5] For Ayurveda, NCCIH says few well-designed trials and systematic reviews suggest that its approaches are effective. [6] Less than 1% of global health research funding goes to traditional medicine. [3] See Does Traditional Medicine Work?.

Have traditional remedies led to real drugs? Yes, in some cases. WHO cites aspirin, which drew on willow bark formulations, and artemisinin, which began with a review of Chinese medical texts. [3] See Drugs With Traditional Origins.

Respect

Can anyone use any tradition's practices? Some knowledge is sacred or restricted by the community that holds it. This site does not describe such practices. See Cultural Appropriation and Traditional Healing Products and How This Section Describes Traditions.