Current Status and Future of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Nigeria

Abstract

A large population in Africa is dependent on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). -Complementary Medicine‖ or -Alternative Medicine‖ refer to a broad set of health care practices that are not taught in conventional medical school. These practices and therapies are not completely integrated into the conventional health-care system. 1 Whereas, Traditional Medicine (TM) is knowledge, skill, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures. The popularity of CAM and TM in Africa is due the high cost of conventional medicine, lack of infrastructure and above all belief in traditional culture. The general perception about CAM or TM is poor among the conventional medical practitioners. For decades, confusion existed with the terms like CAM, TM, Alternative Medicine (AM), and many such practices and therapies that are not taught in conventional medical school. 2 With many emerging research studies, it is now clear that not all CAM is bad, some are potentially good and now being integrated in main stream medicine. 3,4 Global scientific interest in CAM started when some complementary therapies got acceptance in medical schools of USA over two decades ago. 5 The Integrative Medicine (IM) is defined as healing philosophy which takes into account the whole person i.e., body, mind and spirit.