BMJ 1994;308:673-674 (12 March)

Editorials

Towards the safer use of traditional remedies

About 80% of the world's population does not have access to Western medicine and therefore depends on traditional medical practices. When people from less developed countries emigrate they continue to seek medical advice from traditional practitioners working in their own communities, even in countries where all citizens have free access to good quality Western medicine. Though the main reasons for this are probably cultural and linguistic, the role of mistrust and fear should not be underestimated.

Large amounts of traditional medicines are imported into Britain, legally and illegally, and use of such medicines is frequently not admitted on occasions when serious illness forces patients to consult Western medical practitioners. These medicines carry with them a risk of adverse reactions; the risk needs to be quantified and as far as possible minimised.

The safer use of traditional remedies was the subject of a one day meeting held last month at the . . . [Full text of this article]


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