INTRODUCTION

Traditional/Natural Medicine (or Alternative Herbal Medicine) refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses,

Traditional herbal medicine has been playing an essential role in primary health care globally. The aim of this work is to present an overview of traditional herbal medicine research productivity over the past years

Traditional healers serve many roles which include but not limited to custodians of the traditional African religion and customs, educators about culture, counselors, social workers and psychologists.

There is high patronage of the Traditional Medicine (TM) for many reasons including belief, trust, proximity and cost and mode of payment. Thus TM is a national asset. It provides employment to indigenous people and there is the need to improve the practice.

The main problems affecting the practice of Traditional Medicine include the lack of information on practitioners including their qualification, registration, educational background, location, number and the products used in their practices. Other problems include inappropriate premises for practice, inadequate record keeping by practitioners, inadequate facilities for diagnosis and the use of un-standardized products.

Research needs in the field of herbal medicines are huge, but are balanced by the potential health benefits and the enormous size of the market. Research into the quality, safety, molecular effects, and clinical efficacy of the numerous herbs in common usage is needed. Newly emerging scientific techniques and approaches should be applied and testing should be provided. Genomic testing and chemical fingerprinting techniques using hyphenated testing platforms are now available for definitive authentication and quality control of herbal products. They should be regulated to be used to safeguard consumers, but questions of efficacy will remain unless and until adequate amounts of scientific evidence accumulate from experimental and controlled human trials.

The use of mainstream medicines cannot be substituted by herbal remedies. However, some herbal medicines could help in boosting immunity. As people are becoming more conscious of a safer approach to health, there is a rising awareness of herbal medicine and natural healing. This research will walk you through the history, significance, preparation and application of herbal medicines and looks at potential business opportunities in Nigeria.

The Academy of Innovative Research, Science & Technological Development (AIRSTD) is established aims to support the work of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMH), the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), the Nigerian Council of Physician of Natural Medicine (NCPNM), the Centre for Research in Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine, States Ministries of Health, Local Governments Healthcare Centres, other traditional medical practitioners in Nigeria and the World Health Organization (WHO) develop policies and implement plans the roles of Traditional Medicine (TM) and integrate traditional medical practice into public healthcare in Nigeria and the African nationals.

OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of AIRSTD shall include but not limited to

  • To examine the main challenges that traditional Nigerian holistic healing faces in contemporary Nigerian societies.
  • To examine whether or not some aspects of traditional Nigerian holistic healing persist in contemporary Nigerian societies.
  • To assess the contribution of Nigerian Medicine-men to holistic healing in traditional Nigerian societies.
  • To determine whether or not some aspects of Nigerian holistic healing can be incorporated into contemporary healing processes.

FUNCTIONS

AIRSTD will perform the following functions:

  • To promote the development and commercialization of indigenous Nigerian Traditional Medicine.
  • To integrate Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines into the National healthcare system.
  • Advising community and individuals on proper diet and behaviour to preserve or improve health and well-being


PROPOSED POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES

Some of the proposed policies and AIRSTD’s activities include but not limited to:

Association and Record Keeping of the Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs)

  • All Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) shall be required to register an association with the view to enhancing the practice and eliminating quacks in the system.
  • To assist the genuine practitioners, the umbrella association of TM shall be encouraged to organize training and educational programmes on good manufacturing practices.
  • Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) shall keep accurate records of all their practices
    TM practitioners shall be encouraged to use modern facilities to diagnose and monitor management of patients.
  • Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) shall be provided in all public health institutions. The purpose is to offer patients/clients options of health service from which to choose.
  • Appropriate standards of practice shall be set as and when facilities improve to make it easier for enforcement of legislation.

    Technology Transfer and Commercialization

  • Large scale commercialization of Total Addressable Market TAM) products shall be encouraged and financially supported.
  • Extensive local use of Total Addressable Market TAM) medicinal products shall be encouraged through education and provision of such products at public health institutions

Professionalization of Traditional Medicine through Formal Training

  • TM practitioners shall be educated on all aspects of patent, copyright and trademark laws
  • Training shall be provided for TM to improve their knowledge and skills of practice. The cost of such training shall be borne by the TM practitioners.
  • Training curriculum shall be developed for TMP training at all levels.
  • TM practitioners and other scientists shall be protected and harnessed.

Research and Product Development

  • TM practitioners shall be trained in research methods to enable them carry out research and documentation of results of their practices.
  • Guidelines shall be provided for efficacy and safety studies in relation to TM medicine products to ensure relevance.
  • Guidelines shall be provided for clinical trials of Traditional Medicine products.
  • TM practitioners shall be required to document and report all adverse effects of plant medicine products and all reported cases shall be investigated.
  • Interaction between TM practitioners and the government shall be encouraged through research, seminars, workshops and symposia.
  • Public education shall be intensified on the values, benefits and dangers associated with both practices.
  • The media shall be trained and supported to promote TM.

Standardization, Quality Assurance and Large-scale Production

  • TM practitioners shall be assisted to standardize their medicinal product to ensure uniformity in the batches that are offered for sale.
  • Manufacturing premises shall be regularly inspected to ensure good manufacturing practices (GMP).
  • TM practitioners shall be required to disclose vital information on their products before registration of traditional medicinal products


RESEARCH AREAS

Alternative Medicines

Alternative Medicines (TM)) is the treatments that are used instead of standards medical treatments. Alternative medicines, which include herbal, traditional, and many other dietary supplements, are used or relied on by more than half of the world’s population. Despite an inherently wide margin of safety, selected alternative medicines have been associated with significant adverse effects.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is described a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by variety of techniques. Acupuncture is part of the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is the practice of penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles which are then activated through gentle and specific movements of the practitioner’s hands or with electrical stimulation.

Acupuncture is a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefit. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries. Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it’s called essential oil therapy. Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health. This involves the use of essentials oils (extracts or essences) from flowers, herbs and trees to promoted health and well-being. When inhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional centre of the brain.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is an alternative medical system which focuses on the relationship between bodily structure that includes spine, nervous system and musculoskeletal system (as well as back, neck and head pain) and function and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. Spinal manipulation appears to benefit some people with low-back pain and may also be helpful for headaches, neck pain, upper- and lower-extremity joint conditions, and whiplash-associated disorders.

The research on chiropractic will focus on spinal manipulation and will encompassing a range of health care practices that diagnoses, treats and helps prevent disorders and conditions.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Complementary medicine is used in addition to standard treatments while Alternative medicine is used instead of standard treatments. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care. The terms ‘complementary’ medicines or ‘alternative medicines’ refer to a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country’s won tradition or conventional; medicines and are not fully integrated into the dominant healthcare system. Complementary and Alternative Medicine includes practices such as massage, acupuncture, tai chi, and drinking green tea. Integrative medicine is an approach to medical care that combines conventional medicine with CAM practices that have shown through science to be safe and effective.

Herbalism

Herbalism refers to folk and traditional medicinal practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, which is refer to using a plant’s seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Herbalism has a long tradition of use outside conventional medicine. It is becoming more mainstream as improvements in analysis and quality control, along with advances in clinical research, show the value of herbal medicine in treating and preventing disease.

Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathic medicine is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses very small amounts of natural substances that, at higher amounts, may cause a disease or symptom. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process. Homeopathy is used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including colds, upset stomachs, pain, and menopausal hot flashes. However, there is limited evidence proving the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments.

Homeopathy claims to stimulate healing responses to diseases by administering substances that mimic the symptoms of those diseases in healthy people. The effectiveness of homeopathic preparations is disputed within medical science.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy (including myotherapy) is the practice of kneading or manipulating a person’s muscles and other soft-tissue in order to improve their wellbeing or health. The soft tissues include muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin. It is a form of manual therapy that includes holding, moving, and applying pressure to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. In massage therapy, a massage therapist rubs and kneads the soft tissues of your body. The massage therapist varies the amount of pressure and movement. Massage has been practiced in most cultures, both Eastern and Western, throughout human history, and was one of the earliest tools that people used to try to relieve pain. Massage is part of integrative medicine. It can be used for a wide range of medical conditions.


Reflexology

Reflexology, or zone therapy, is an alternative therapy involving application of pressure to the feet, ears and hands with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion to promote wellness in other areas of the body. Reflexology is a technique that applies gentle pressure to your feet or hands. It aims to bring about a state of relaxation and help the body’s own healing process. Modern reflexology is based on the principle that the foot has ‘reflex’ points that correspond to the various structures and organs throughout the body.

Traditional Medicine (TM)

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge, skills, practises theories, beliefs and experiences based on the indigenous to different cultures, incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.

Complementary Medicine

A complementary technique is considered as one which falls beyond the scope of orthodox medicine, which describes a wide range of healthcare medicines and therapies. Complementary medicine includes massage, meditation, biofeedback, tai chi, reiki, music therapy, guided imagery, and dietary supplements. Complementary medicine is used along with traditional Western medicine.

Many countries use complementary medicine for specific health conditions or health benefits. To help some countries make informed decisions about their health care, AIRSTD supports research into complementary medicine and publish information about the effectiveness of various treatments.