What is Natural Medicine?

anamed defines Natural Medicine in the Tropics as being a combination of the advantages of the health system of the North with the advantages of the health system of the South.

As in Modern Medicine, Practitioners of Natural Medicine

  1. are well-trained
  2. observe hygiene
  3. examine the patient thoroughly and carefully
  4. make medicines accurately according to proven procedures, using materials that are scientifically validated
  5. give the medicines labels, with a clear expiry date
  6. know the side effects of any treatment
  7. prescribe accurate dosages
  8. use no witchcraft
  9. describe plants by their scientific names
  10. seek recognition from the regional and national health authorities for their work, link with an international network of National Medicine practitioners and and keep abreast of new development in the field of Natural Medicine.

As in Traditional Medicine, Practitioners of Natural Medicine

  1. use locally available plants
  2. pay attention not only to the immediate needs of the patients, but also to wider problems in the family, community or environment that cause those health complaints
  3. speak the same language, and belong to the same culture, as the patients
  4. are scattered throughout the country, even in the most rural and remote areas
  5. have few expenses, and are therefore usually cheap for the patient, who can pay in cash or in kind
  6. produce little waste, and no toxic waste
  7. enable money to circulate within the community, because they purchase very little from outside the local area
  8. suffer no problems of shortages due to civil disturbance, or delays at the customs
  9. create employment in the medicinal garden and the preparation of medicines
  10. encourage self reliance.