Traditional Medicine, Modern Medicine and Complementary Medicine

10.1

Traditional Medicine, Modern Medicine and Complementary Medicine

Type of medicine

Type of medicine	Explanation	Example
Traditional medicine	A medical treatment that uses plants, animals and natural substances that are specifically applied or combined for diagnosis and treatment of disease	Effectivenness of the treatment is slow and takes time Treatment using natural substances from plants and animals Low treatment cost Effectiveness proven with experience Inherited and practised from generation to generation
Modern medicine	The combination of the art of medicine in various field of science that relate to health science and biomedical	Treatment uses synthetic medicine High treatment cost Clinically test Using modern methods such as surgery, laser treatment and radiotherapy Treatment effective and fast
Complementary medicine	Various methods of health care that originates from many cultural background	Does not involve surgery and stitches on body Considers the views of modern and traditional medical practitioners Does not use medicine, drug and synthetic chemical substances

Example of the medicines

Traditional medicine

Medicine	Uses
Aloe vera	To reduce pain due to sunburn or exposure to hot objects
Ginseng	To maintain good health
Ginger	To relieves swelling, bodily pain and bloadtedness
Hibiscus plant	To relieve headache and preventing hair loss
Quinine	To make medicine for malaria

Modern medicine

Medicine	Uses
Analgesic	To relieves pain
Antibiotics	To kill or inhibit the growth of infectious bacteria
Psychotherapeutic	To treat psychiatric patients

Complementary medicine

Medicine	Uses
Acupuncture	To relieve pain
Chiropractic	Effective for back and neck pain, joint pain, headaches and sport injuries
Traditional massage	Soothes anxiety, pain, fatigue, muscle tension and nerve problems
Homeopathy	To strengthen the body's immunity against infectious disease
Herbal theraphy	To cure diseases

Man-made medicines and medicines from natural resources

Man-made medicines	Medicines from natural resources
Made in the lab and commercialised for the use of consumers	Derived from plants and animals
Must be taken regularly or stopped when the sickness has healed	Must be taken or used continuously for a long time to be effective
Evidence of healing is based on clinical test	Evidence of healing by trust and past experiences
There is risk of side effect if used without the advice of a doctor the patient does not follow the correct dosage	There is a risk of side effect if used without the advice of a doctor the patient does not follow the correct dosage
Vitamin C as pills in pharmacies	Vitamin C from fruits

The effect of misuse of medicine
Causes death Causes the medication to be less effective Causes severe side effects Cause addition