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Filipe Joao Meque

ENGLISH SUBJECT
Modern versus Traditional Medicine

1st Year
Course: Public Administration

Instituto Superior de Ciências de Educação a Distancia (ISCED)

June, 2019
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Filipe Joao Meque

ENGLISH SUBJECT
Modern versus Traditional Medicine

1st Year
Course: Public Administration

Lecturer: dr.

Instituto Superior de Ciências de Educação a Distancia (ISCED)

June, 2019
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Contents

Introduction......................................................................................................................................3

1.0. Modern versus Traditional Medicine....................................................................................4

1.1. A brief concept of traditional versus modern medicine....................................................4

1.2. Advantages and disadvantages between traditional and modern medicine......................5

1.2.1. Advantages of Traditional Medicine.........................................................................5

1.2.2. Disadvantages of Traditional medicine.....................................................................6

1.2.3. Advantages of Modern Medicine..............................................................................7

1.2.4. Disadvantages of Modern medicine..........................................................................9

Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10

Reference sources..........................................................................................................................11
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Introduction

The term traditional medicine is used to explain the traditional medical practice that has been in
existence even before the advent of modern medicine. It is still widely accepted and used in
prevention and treatment of physical and mental disorders as well as social imbalance. Due to its
intrinsic qualities, unique and holistic approaches as well as its accessibility and affordability, it
continues to be the best alternative care available for the majority of the global population,
particularly for those in the rural areas of developing countries.

Historically conventional medicine is regarded as having originated from the western parts of the
world and the way it is practiced is to ensure that one’s condition is diagnosed to ascertain the
cause of the disease before administering treatment. 
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1.1. Modern versus Traditional Medicine

1.2. A brief concept of traditional versus modern medicine

Traditional medicine is an ancient medical practice that is still widely used in prevention and
treatment of various health problems in Mozambique.

According to the World Health Organization (2004, p. XV),  traditional medicine is the sum
total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences
indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as
well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. It
is a systems of medicine developed before the era of modern medicine, based on cultural beliefs
and practices handed down from generation to generation. On the other hand, traditional
medicine practitioners link the cause of sickness to a number of aspects including the physical
body, the spiritual body and the mind. Therefore treatment is given totally to solve these aspects.

The modern or conventional medicine health care system has been described as the ‘Western
model’ based on historical origin and the way it is practiced.

Therapeutic activity refers to the successful prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physical and
mental illnesses; improvement of symptoms of illnesses; as well as beneficial alteration or
regulation of the physical and mental status of the body.

1.3. Advantages and disadvantages between traditional and modern medicine

The science of recovery might have started throughout the pre-historic moments as shown by
documents demonstrating Babylonian medicine and the ancient Greek language.

Both modern and conventional medicine works beneath the same theory – to offer recovery.
However, varies in several ideas and guiding principles triggered by development and
development and the constant research of technology. 
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1.3.1. Advantages of Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine presents a number of advantages in comparison to modern medicine. In

traditional medicine, problems associated with side effects due to the usage of pharmaceutical
drugs do not arise. These medications contain only a few instances of unintended consequences,
and this emerges as the best and safer drugs to use. Contrary to this, modern medicines are used
as substitutes for traditional medicines especially in dealing with more complex ailments that
cannot be healed with traditional drugs.

Traditional medicines create an efficient atmosphere in situations associated with chronic

conditions (Grunnet, 2010). Efficiency arises out of the ability to presents a case of reduced
health grievances. In comparison, traditional medicine achieves efficiency from reduced time of
seeing a physician or a clinic. There is also a solution of using traditional medicine to reduce
related dietary changes. Example to this is lessened problems associated with arthritis. Contrary
to this view, modern medicine is mostly used in a situation where instant healing would be in
quick need.

Traditional medicines are cost-effective in comparison prescribed medications. Effectiveness

arises purely from reduced elements of research and development of traditional drugs during
their processing in comparison to modern medicine that would have tied up huge funds due to
research. However, the high costs of modern medicine can offer an advantage in the terms of
accurate healing due to the amount of research and development done. Another advantage of
traditional medicine is the availability.

Traditional medicine can be available in different parts of the world considering it comes in its
raw form. Ease of availability makes it possible for one to grow traditional medicine like herbs
of peppermint or chamomile at home (Grunnet, 2010). On the other hand, modern medicine
requires proper processing and in some cases synthesizing.

1.3.2. Disadvantages of Traditional medicine

There is the problem associated with the inappropriateness of traditional medicine concerning
many conditions. Traditional medicines would only be useful while treating simple illnesses that
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are not related to accidents, serious illnesses or any critical complication. It would be the
prerogative of a qualified doctor to deal with such significant diseases or complications of
accidents, injuries and surgical operations.

There is also the problem associated with inefficient dosage instructions that can extend to cause
serious harm rather than healing. Modern medicines are usually given under prescriptive care,
and this would offer a solution to the problem of inefficient dosage. Challenges in relation to
overdose can be realized in traditional medicine, and this arises especially in cases where there is
no package inserts. Traditional medicines are often associated with poisonous substances of the
herb. Toxic substances would occur if a person picks the wrong herb. This can easily occur if the
person picking the herbs is not conversant with the various plants. In addition, one cannot be
mixed or take herbal medicine together with modern medicine because of unforeseeable
complications. Such situations of medical interactions are as a result of interrelating with the
medication that may have been prescribed earlier.

Herbal medicines take too much time to act, and the entire process is very slow. They contain
various ingredients which sometimes causes allergic reactions. Herbal medicines are not good
for serious cases such as heart attack and broken bones. These medicines are also ineffective in
sudden illnesses and accidents. Herbal medications often interact with regular medicines. Herbs
harvested in the wild are risky. Incorrect identification of the required herb can even lead to
poisoning. Herbal medicines are also not properly regulated and so they do not carry any quality
assurance.

1.3.3. Advantages of Modern Medicine

Advantages of modern medicine include quick and efficient trauma treatment, alleviation of
illness symptoms, use of advanced medical tools and flexibility in treatment options.
Additionally, modern medicine is faster acting than traditional herbal medicines, although there
is an increased risk of side effects.

Modern medicine is also known as Western medicine, and is considered to be much more
effective than traditional herbal and homeopathic treatments.
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Advances in trauma treatment through modern medicine have life-saving implications. Through
adequate training and practice, surgeons and nurses work together in emergency situations
treating severe injuries caused by accidents such as automobile crashes or natural disasters.

Modern medicine treats symptoms in addition to the presenting illness in order to alleviate
patient discomfort and speed the healing process. With symptoms under control, patients can
resume daily activities while the illness is treated.

Advances in medical technology and tools allow doctors to quickly and precisely identify patient
issues. For example, X-ray machines diagnose broken bones and determine that a cast is the
appropriate treatment to allow the injury to heal.

Flexibility in modern medicine provides patients with the ability to make inquiries about their
symptoms and possible diagnosis online. Depending on the illness, many patients receive
treatment at home or on an outpatient basis, which reduces expenses.

In certain situations Western medicine is the best and stands above all Alternative medicine. 
Especially in cases of trauma, serious accidents, broken bones, wounds, for necessary surgery
and certain infections, there’s no better option!  I can testify to this as I’ve had great doctors
stitch me up and put me back together!  Most other forms are simply not designed to deal with
this type of situation.  Would you ever bring a broken leg to a chiropractor, acupuncturist or
herbalist?  No way!

Fortunately it´s also naturally suited for emergency response situations.  The nature of Western
medicine is completely science-based, focused on drugs, radiation and surgery to treat the
symptoms (a physical intervention).  The methods are based on scientific theory while other
Alternative medicines mostly rely on observations and results, rather than theory.  So it´s easy to
understand why it’s the most appropriate option for trauma and emergencies. Furthermore,
Modern medicine has really helped in increasing life expectancy of people, it has provided cure
for previously incurable diseases like TB etc. It has provided cures of various problems through
surgery, a range of operations nowadays are done through minimal invasive surgeries. Overall
quality of life has increased because problems can now be diagnosed much faster and accurate.
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1.3.4. Disadvantages of Modern medicine

The modern medicine seems to have more advantages than disadvantages. One of the
disadvantages I see is that when you take a medicine against a certain condition you have,
instead of the medicine going against only that problem; it may highly affect other body tissues
and systems.
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Conclusion

In summary, it is crucial to look at the issue of modern medicine versus traditional medicines in a
broad perspective. None of the two approaches is absolute. For this reason, it is important to
conduct more research on traditional medicine to ascertain its viability as a mode of treatment in
different conditions. Most important is finding out whether its lack of side effects can be
exploited to act as a preventive approach, which can reduce overall dependency on conventional
medicine. As the gap between traditional and modern medicine widens, abridging this calls for
the creation of an open discussion to engage and interact through bilateral communication.
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Reference sources

Adamu, U. F. (2013). Modern and traditional medicine: Conflicts and reconciliation. Safari
Books LTD.

Foss, L. (2002). The end of modern medicine: Biomedical science under a microscope. Albany,
NY: State Univ. of New York Press.

Grunnet, J. (2015). Advantages and disadvantages of herbal medicine. Retrieved from

http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Advantages_and_Disadvantages_of_Herbal_Medicine

https://yourhealthblog.net/advantages-and-disadvantages-traditional-medicine/ (Accessed on
June 4th, 2019)

https://www.elitecme.com/resource-center/nursing/pros-cons-of-alternative-medicine-modern-
medicine-traditional-medicine/ (Accessed on June 3rd, 2019)

https://www.assignmentpoint.com/science/medical/traditional-medicine.html (Accessed on June

5th, 2019)

https://www.accurateessays.com/samples/traditional-medicine-modern-medicine/

https://studymoose.com/traditional-and-modern-medicine-essay (Accessed on June 1st, 2019)