For centuries, people in all countries have turned to traditional healers, home remedies and ancient medicinal knowledge to meet their health and wellness needs. According to WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine (2019), various traditional medicine systems used around the world include acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional indigenous medicine, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy, Ayurvedic medicine and unani. And one hundred and seventy WHO member states reported on the use of traditional medicine by their populations.
Traditional medicine is sometimes considered pre-scientific, with its practices and treatments due to be replaced by better, more effective, science-based modern medicine. What is less known, however, is its contribution to modern science and medicine, as well as a long history of traditional products and practices being transformed into effective treatments for health conditions.
Around 40% of pharmaceutical products today draw inspiration from nature and traditional knowledge, including flagship drugs: aspirin, artemisinin and treatments for childhood cancer. A closer look at these drugs reveals that the scientists who developed them relied on traditional knowledge to make their revolutionary discoveries.
Harnessing nature and indigenous knowledge to advance modern medicine
After testing – without success – more than 240,000 compounds intended for use in antimalarial drugs, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, leader of Project 523 aimed at discovering a cure for chloroquine-resistant malaria, turned to the literature traditional Chinese medicine to find clues. There, she and her team found reference to fragrant wormwood for treating intermittent fevers. In 1971, Tu Youyou’s team isolated artemisinin, an active compound from fragrant wormwood that was particularly effective in the treatment of malaria. Artemisinin is now recommended by the World Health Organization as first and second lines of treatment against malaria. In 2015, Tu Youyou received the award Nobel prize in physiology or medicine for his work on malaria, which saved millions of lives.
Willow bark, used as the base for aspirin, is another example of how nature and traditional knowledge have contributed to modern medicine. More than 3,500 years ago, willow bark was used as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory by the Sumerians and Egyptians. Later, in ancient Greece, it was used to relieve pain related to childbirth and to cure fevers. In 1897, Bayer chemist Felix Hoffmann synthesized aspirin and the drug has gone on to improve and save the lives of millions of people every day – with multiple benefits including preventing heart attacks or strokes brain, improving blood pressure and relieving pain and swelling. . Aspirin is one of the most widely used medications in the world today.
In addition to fragrant wormwood and willow bark, Madagascar periwinkle, hawthorn, foxglove, star anise and Mexican wild yam have contributed to medical advances, including cancer drugs. child and contraceptive pills. Madagascar periwinkle, now the source of drugs against childhood cancer vinblastine and vincristine has an exceptionally long history of use as a medicinal plant and is mentioned in Mesopotamian folklore, the Ayurvedic system of traditional Indian medicine as well as traditional Chinese medicine. Medicinal plants like hawthorn and foxglove have been used to treat cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Other examples include: shikimic acid extracted from star anise and used in the manufacture of Tamiflu, an antiviral drug that blocks the actions of influenza viruses types A and B in the body; and norethindrone, derived from the Mexican wild yam, which is one of the primary active ingredients in birth control pills.
Modern medicine has relied on what nature has to offer and relied on traditional knowledge systems of how these medicinal plants, herbs, roots and barks were used to cure illnesses throughout civilizations.
Leveraging ancient practices to eradicate global diseases
In addition to learning from how ancient cultures harnessed natural resources for health, we have also looked to traditional community health practices for answers to modern illnesses. THE development of smallpox vaccine in this global health success story is an example.
One of the deadliest diseases known to man, smallpox remains the only human disease to have been eradicated. For thousands of years, smallpox killed hundreds of millions of people around the world. The current smallpox vaccine is based on the principle used in the ancient practice of variolation, whereby material from smallpox sores was transferred to healthy people, thereby resulting in milder forms of disease. Ancient practices of variolation date back to 200 BCE and are widely used in Asia and parts of Africa.
In 1721, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu observed the popular Turkish practice of vaccinating Greek and Armenian women and succeeded in vaccinating her own child against smallpox. This practice was also used in Persia, China, India and other countries. Similar accounts of West African slaves in American colonies inoculating themselves against smallpox brought well-deserved attention to this ancient practice. Over time, through extensive testing, the traditional practice of inoculation was shown to effectively protect against smallpox, resulting in a widely used smallpox vaccine and the ultimate eradication of this disease .
Yoga and acupuncture are also examples of traditional healing practices that have been used successfully to treat chronic health conditions. Dr Susan Wieland, co-chair of the WHO Traditional Medicine Group External Advisory Group and director of Cochrane Complementary Medicine, notes how “evidence from more than 20 clinical trials indicates that yoga is effective in improving pain and back-related functions in chronic non-specific low back pain. The same goes for acupuncture when it comes to pain relief. Thus, the research data highlights the value of these ancient practices that have gained popularity worldwide, in modern times.
In another example, Dr. Wieland explains how exposing babies with jaundice to the sun – a timeless Ayurvedic practice – corresponds to the modern medical treatment of phototherapy: “We now understand the mechanism by which this (exposure to the sun) is effective, how it converts bilirubin into an unconjugated form that can be excreted – so we now have a different understanding of why it works. But traditional medicine has understood that it works.
Expanding knowledge through new technologies
Where else can traditional and indigenous knowledge from the world around us guide discovery for the health and well-being of people and the planet?
With a remarkable and rapid modernization of the way traditional medicine is studied, new technologies and technological innovation could lead the way and enable a deeper understanding of the tangible benefits of traditional medicine.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a game-changer, revolutionizing the study and practice of traditional healing systems. AI’s advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities enable researchers to explore vast traditional medical knowledge, map evidence, and identify once-elusive patterns and trends.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has made it possible to study brain activity and measure relaxation responses in individuals engaged in traditional yoga and meditation practices, which people around the world are increasingly using for their mental health, stress management and general well-being. Drawing on traditional uses, new clinically effective drugs can be identified through research methods such as ethnopharmacology and reverse pharmacology.
We live in exciting times in research into traditional medicine products and practices, which are increasingly used by populations around the world. With increased use comes more research and evidence to establish what works and what doesn’t. And the research really looks promising.
