CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Traditional medicine is “the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on indigenous theories, beliefs and experiences of different cultures, explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health, as well as in the prevention, diagnosis and control of improvement or treatment of physical and mental diseases “(WHO, 2018).
Traditional medicine includes a variety of health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs that incorporate herbal, animal and / or mineral medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises applied individually or in combination for maintain well-being, as well as treat, diagnose or prevent disease (WHO, 2002).
In Africa, traditional medicine is of great value and more than 70% of people question traditional healers about health problems (Tijjani et al., 2009).
Medicinal plants are widely used around the world. In most developing countries, especially in rural areas, traditional local medicine, including herbalism, is the only source of medical care for people, while in developed countries, alternative medicine, including The use of dietary supplements is marketed aggressively using the claims of traditional medicines (WHO, 2017).
One of the reasons that patients are turning to TM for complementary care is an increase in the number of chronic and debilitating conditions for which there is no treatment. Scientific studies of several TM therapies show that its use is effective, for example. for patients with HIV / AIDS and cancer (WHO, 2004). As a result, UNAIDS advocates for collaboration with TM professionals in the prevention and treatment of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 2000).
