Manufacturing Practice for Traditional Medicine

In the manufacture of traditional medicines, overall control is essential to ensure that the consumer receives traditional medicines of quality. Haphazard operations cannot be permitted in the manufacture of material that may be necessary to restore or preserve health.

The production of traditional medicines that utilize materials of natural origin such as plants and animals are prone to contamination, deterioration and variation in quality. Therefore, the control of the starting materials, storage and processing of traditional medicines is important. The control is also required because of the often complex and variable nature, the number and the small quantity of defined active materials in many traditional medicines.

The manufacture of traditional medicines depends on the starting materials, manufacturing processes, building, equipment and personnel involved. It is not sufficient that the finished product merely passes testing protocols but quality must also be built into the product. All traditional medicines should be manufactured under strictly controlled and monitored conditions, and sole reliance should not be placed on any test for assurance of the quality of the end product.

Thus, every traditional medicines manufacturer should take steps as necessary and appropriate with the objective of ensuring that their traditional medicinal products are of the intended quality and nature.

Current Market Situation of Traditional Medicines

Herbal medicine is the most lucrative and well known in international marketplace, the annual revenues of herbal treatments in Western Europe close to USD$ 5 billion in 2003-2004. In China, sales of herbal products reached USD$ 14 billion in 2005. Meanwhile in Brazil, the revenue was up to USD$ 160 million in 2007.

Since herbal medicines is the most profit making traditional medicines practices, counterfeits, poor quality or adulterated herbal products in international markets are serious patient safety threats.

Traditional Medicine Usage and Its Challenges

80% of Asian and African population relies of traditional medicine for their primary health care. On the other hand, 70-80% of developed countries population had used some form of complimentary or alternative medicine.

The role of traditional medicines in between these two populations is different mainly due to several reasons. For example, the resources of the herbals may limit the accessibility of the consumer to the traditional medicines. Other instances, such as the support from the local government as well as the consumer knowledge with regards to herbals efficacy may also contribute to different pattern of traditional medicines usage around the world.

Besides that, traditional medicine has been used in some communities for hundreds of years. Meanwhile, the latest generations of population were surrounded by conventional medicines. Thus to adopt traditional medicine in the latest generations may face tough challenges.

On the other hand, broad definitions and categorization of traditional medicines and therapies causes regulating traditional products, practices and practitioners difficult. Hence, not many countries have national policies for traditional medicines.

Introduction to Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine describes medical knowledge systems, which developed over centuries within various societies before the era of modern medicine. There are a number of practices that falls under traditional medicines. For instance herbal, Ayurvedic, Unani, Ancient Iranian, Siddha, Islamic and traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Muti, Ifá, and other medical knowledge and practices all over the globe.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicines as:

Traditional medicine is the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures that are used to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses.

Traditional medicine that has been adopted by other populations (outside its indigenous culture) is often termed alternative or complementary medicine.

In comparison to other form of traditional medicines, herbal medicines are the abundance and most profitable form of traditional medicines. Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations, and finished herbal products that contain parts of plants or other plant materials as active ingredients.