Why are T&CM used over pharmaceuticals?

• People choose T&CM over pharmaceuticals for many reasons, one being accessibility. This type of care is close to homes, making it more accessible and affordable. It is also culturally accepted and trusted by a wide range of people. This type of medicine also stands out as a way of coping with chronic non-communicable diseases.

Describe one chart or table that you found interesting regarding the data collected.

• I notice a bar graph that is titled, Monitoring changes in country progress indicators defined by the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy. The dark green bars are the number of MS with TM policy while the light green represent the number of MS regulating herbal medicines. As the years go by, starting from 1999, the number of MS regulating herbal medicines is significantly higher compared to the number of MS with TM policy. Both numbers rise as the years go by, but the number of MS regulating herbal medicines by 2012 was 119 while the number of MS with TM policy was 69.

T&CM is more affordable and accessible than conventional medication, specifically in low income areas. It also aligns with traditional and cultural practices which builds trust and sense of security. It provides a holistic approach, focusing on the body as whole.

2. Cons of T&CM

   T&CM has a lack of scientific evidence for several treatments and causes regulation as well as contamination issues. The use of traditional medicine also delays seeking conventional medicine treatments which could be necessary in certain cases.

My culture uses chyawanprash as an immunity booster and to prevent things such as colds, a cough, or infections

For millions of people, T&CM are used over pharmaceuticals, mainly because they are more affordable, but it may be the main source of health care accessible for them. Many people trust them and culturally/traditionally acceptable.

Describe Chart/Table.

This pie chart displays the regulations imposed on T&CM practitioners in China. What surprised me is that half of the practitioners who answered (43.5%) had no regulations and the others half (43.5%) did. This means that, unlike pharmaceutical drugs, there isn't much regulations on T&CM, so they may be less safe.

• In some countries, T&CM is one of the primary sources of healthcare, more common and readily affordable than pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, cultural and historical influences may play a role in the use of T&CM over pharmaceuticals. Other studies have shown that factors like dissatisfaction with existing healthcare services and interest in "whole person care" and disease prevention may lead people to make this choice.

What areas or cultures utilize T&CM more?

• Developing countries such as those in Africa may utilize T&CM more as the ratio of traditional healers compared to the ratio of medical doctors is much greater, meaning there is more availability of T&CM in comparison to pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, some hospitals, such as the Royal London Hospital, have been found to integrate T&CM to focus on quality of life when a cure is not possible.

The benefits of T and CM include a holistic approach to health, accessibility, affordability, and improved potential patient satisfaction. It often can be natural and has fewer side effects. However, it is important to always check with your doctor to see if T and CM fits you.

Cons of T and CM

T and CM is not researched enough and there is not enough scientific evidence supporting it, as it could have underlying issues. The use of T and CM could have the wrong diagnosis.

• legal protection - Ensures businesses comply with regulations and protect themselves from legal disputes

• customization - be able to be creative as much as you want

• risk management - Helps businesses manage risks related to liability, refunds, cancellations, and data privacy.

  
  

  Some cons of this are:

• complex - T&Cs difficult for customers to understand

• Regulatory Changes - must keep updating their terms to stay compliant with new laws.

• Potential for Legal Loopholes - If terms are created with vulnerabilities there could be legal risks

• legal protection - Ensures businesses comply with regulations and protect themselves from legal disputes

• customization - be able to be creative as much as you want

• risk management - Helps businesses manage risks related to liability, refunds, cancellations, and data privacy.

  
  

  Some cons of this are:

• complex - T&Cs difficult for customers to understand

• Regulatory Changes - must keep updating their terms to stay compliant with new laws.

• Potential for Legal Loopholes - If terms are created with vulnerabilities there could be legal risks

In my family we use this oil called Eagle Brand Natural Medicated Oil which is used to treat sores, colds, and body aches.

1. Why are T&CM used over pharmaceuticals?

   Many people choose T&CM due reasons like increased demand for all health services, a desire for more information and awareness for more options, dissatisfaction with current healthcare services, and maybe even the interest to help others through programs or services like T&CM.

   
   

2. What areas or cultures utilize T&CM more?

   T&CM typically is used in areas where TM is more affordable like in Africa and developing countries, the healthcare system is well established like in Singapore and the Republic of Korea, and in countries where the health system structure is well-developed like North America and European countries.

Traditional and complementary medicines are often used over pharmaceuticals due to accessibility. For many communities, TC&M and traditional practitioners are the main (and sometimes, only) source of health care available. Affordability and trust also add to the popularity of TC&M.

Benefits of TC&M:

Saving money is a large factor in why many individuals choose TC&M over pharmaceuticals and general practitioner care, as it's significantly less costly. Additionally, patients with practitioners that have complementary and alternative medicine training tend to have lower mortality rates overall.

My family takes ginseng supplements to boost our immune systems, as well as improve our cognitive functions.

Traditional and contemporary medicine is cost saving and overall more effective than most other types of treatment. "results showed that the manual therapy group improved faster than the physiotherapy and general practitioner care group, and that the total costs of manual therapy were about one third of the costs of physiotherapy and general practitioner care", (WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy). Those that are using T&CM have better morality rates and results after treatment compared to those that do not use it. There was a decrease in prescription drugs and hospital stays due to the reduced costs.

Cons of T&CM

Whilst there are many benefits to Traditional and contemporary medicine, there are many cons. There are many unqualified practitioners, misdiagnoses, poor quality products, and exposure to misinformation. Many people automatically believe that those practicing T&CM and will not question their advice. However, no matter who is treating us, we must think twice before making a decision that will affect our health.

In my family, we are taught to massage the ayurvedic hair points on our head in order to stimulate hair growth and have healthy hair. By massaging your hair with hair oils you relieve stress and tension.

• A chart I found interesting was a chart monitoring the number of Member States with national research institutes in T&CM. The chart had an increasing amount of the MS regulating herbal medicines each year. It rose significantly in 2012, where it jumped from 58 to 73.

Benefits of T&CM

• There are many benefits of T&CM, such as that it provides easy access than traditional medicine. However, it still does encompass traditional and cultural medicine, which makes a variety of countries use T&CM. However, it still is affordable and cheaper than traditional medicine, so that lower income people can also use T&CM.

  
  

My culture often uses peppermint oil for soothing and lessen pain.

• T&CM provides quality, safety, and efficacy, contributing to ensuring that all people have access to care. It is also culturally acceptable and affordable, trusted by a diverse range of people. Some communities don't trust pharmaceutical medicine, making T&CM a better alternative. Furthermore, compared to pharmaceuticals which have high varying costs, T&CM are more affordable, at an attractive price. Ingredients are more after in traditional medicines than in pharmaceutical medicine. Traditional medicines use herbs and naturally grown ingredients, where prescribed medicine are made up of chemicals, which may cause addiction or fatal health reactions.

What areas or cultures utilize T&CM more?

• Most popular in Asia, traditional Chinese medicine and Unani medicine are popular nationally and are also used worldwide. This localized culture of T&CM grew, with countries including Africa, Asia, Australia and North America using these practices. Through the years, these countries have also stated that they would prefer using these traditional medicines rather than pharmaceuticals, due to their vast benefits of price, safety, and efficiency. More occupations orginating form these countries are acupuncturists, chiropractors and naturopaths, which grew 30% from 1995 to 2005.

My culture and family use forms of acupuncture and moxibustion, to heal body aches and minor pain.

• T&CM can save money as it reduces hospital stays and prescription drug use.

• Uses natural medication with fewer side effects

• It treats and helps not only the illness but also the person itself.

Cons of T&CM:

• Some treatments take longer to show results.

• Not safe-approved and lack scientific proof.

• Can cause bad reactions when mixed with regular medicine.

- Accessibility is one of the many reasons why many pharmaceuticals choose T&CM. T&CM is a care that is close to homes and affordable as well. It is also culturally accepted and trusted by many people.

2.Benefits of T&CM

-A benefit of T&CM is it being affordable. This is helps with those that live low incomes areas. Another benefit is that T&CM improves potential patient satisfaction.

2. What are the cons of T&CM?

   One of the biggest issues with T&CM is that there's inconsistent regulation. This leads to unqualified practitioners who can distribute doses that only harm a person's health. Adding onto this, T&CM has been related to displaying unreliable information. This can directly lead to side effects or unwanted treatment interactions that violate a patient's rights. Other risks include being poorly manufactured and misdiagnosis.

• A "Holistic" approach to health

• Symptom relief for certain conditions

• Includes practices like herbal medicine, acupuncture, and yoga that people use alongside or instead of regular medical treatments. One of the benefits of T&CM is that it focuses on the whole person, not just the illness, which can help improve both physical and mental health.

• More cost efficient

  2. Cons:

• not always backed up by scientific evidence

• can be risky if people rely on it over proper medical care

• hard to find trained professionals, so it could lead to improper treatment

• The benefits of T&Cm is that it is affordable, consumers can save money and it can benifit low income households not by just being affordable but also by aligning with traditional and cultural practices.

What are the Cons of T&CM?

• Some cons of T&CM include lack of evidence, possibility of different side effects, and possibility of unwanted practices.

In my culture we mainly. use Turmeric as a seasoning for food but it has lots of benefits and can prevent cancer and heart disease.

• T&CM is a more affordable alternative to conventional medicine. They are also more accessible than conventional medicines.

• T&CM tends to align more strongly with different cultures which makes them more trusted among a majority of populations.

• T&CM is more safe and effective especially when working with chronic diseases.

Cons of T&CM

• It’s possible for patients to not get the best usage because the product might not be the best or the practitioner isn’t qualified.

• It could be the wrong treatment completely if the practitioner isn’t qualified

• Primarily using T&CM could lead to a bias and a reluctancy to use conventional medicine which may be necessary.