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Open Access Journal Article

Impact of Traditional Medicine Practices on Health Outcomes in Southeast Asia

by Emily Johnson 1,*
1
Emily Johnson
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
AMJ  2021, 18; 3(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20210415
Received: 25 February 2021 / Accepted: 18 March 2021 / Published Online: 15 April 2021
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Abstract

The utilization of traditional medicine practices in Southeast Asia has been a significant component of the healthcare landscape for centuries. This paper explores the impact of these practices on health outcomes within the region. Traditional medicine encompasses a wide range of practices, including herbal remedies, acupuncture, and massage therapy, which are often integrated into the daily lives of Southeast Asian communities. The study finds that while these practices are widely appreciated for their holistic approach to health, they also present challenges in terms of efficacy, standardization, and safety. The effectiveness of traditional medicine in treating various conditions, such as chronic diseases and minor ailments, is often anecdotal rather than evidence-based. However, there is growing recognition of the potential synergistic effects when traditional medicine is combined with conventional healthcare. The paper also highlights the importance of policy frameworks that support the integration of traditional medicine into formal healthcare systems to ensure quality control and patient safety. Furthermore, the need for research to validate traditional medicine practices and to increase understanding of their mechanisms of action is emphasized. Overall, the paper underscores the importance of acknowledging the role of traditional medicine in the health outcomes of Southeast Asian populations while advocating for evidence-based approaches to enhance its efficacy and safety.

Keywords: traditional medicine, health outcomes, Southeast Asia, healthcare landscape, policy frameworks.;
Copyright: © 2021 by Johnson. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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ACS Style
Johnson, E. Impact of Traditional Medicine Practices on Health Outcomes in Southeast Asia. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 2021, 3, 18. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20210415
AMA Style
Johnson E. Impact of Traditional Medicine Practices on Health Outcomes in Southeast Asia. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal; 2021, 3(1):18. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20210415
Chicago/Turabian Style
Johnson, Emily 2021. "Impact of Traditional Medicine Practices on Health Outcomes in Southeast Asia" Asia-Pacific Medical Journal 3, no.1:18. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20210415
APA style
Johnson, E. (2021). Impact of Traditional Medicine Practices on Health Outcomes in Southeast Asia. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 3(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20210415

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