Abstract

ETHNOMEDICINE IN CANCER THERAPY: A REVIEW

Dr. Anu Gopalakrishnan, Dr Varuna P. Panicker, Dr Devi Gopinath, Dr Gurupriya, Vijayasaraswathy S., Dr Jayakiran Kasa

Abstract

Ethnomedicine is the study of the traditional medicine (indigenous or folk medicine) practiced by various ethnic groups, and by indigenous people. Hence the word ethnomedicine can be used as a synonym for traditional medicine. These Traditional knowledge systems are developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine. At present, majority of the people in developing countries rely on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare, and about 85% of traditional medicines involve the use of plant extract. 1, 2 In all countries of the world, there exist different forms of traditional knowledge related to the health of human beings and animals. The definition of traditional medicine given by the World Health Organization (WHO), may be summarized as â€Å¾the sum total of all the knowledge and practices, whether explicable or not, used in the diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical, mental or social imbalance and relying exclusively on practical experience and observation handed down from generation to generation, whether verbally or in writing‟. 3

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