| 英文摘要 |
In recent years, despite the progress in medical sciences, there is a continuous increase of diseases for which there are as yet no effective therapies. In the meantime, traditional medicines are increasingly being recognized as a safe method of medical treatment. There are many traditional medical practices and medicines peculiar to each people in the world. Chinese medicine in China, Ayurveda in India, and Unani medicine in Islamic countries are known as the three great traditional medicines in the World. From their origins, these traditional medicines also spread to various countries and regions such as Ayurveda to Indian Siddha medicine, Thai classic medicine, Tibetan medicine, Mongolian medicine and Jamu in Indonesia. Unani medicine has been practiced in Egypt, Paskistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Arabia and probably has evolved into Uygur medicine in Xinjiang, China. Traditional medical practices are not always individualized, they have influenced each other through cultural exchanges among peoples. As an example, Tibetan medicine, originated in Ayurveda, uses therapeutic methods and drugs that adjust to the climate of Tibetan plateaus and moreover incorporate the merits of Chinese medicine. Such traditional medicines were developed in nations and among peoples that had created their written systems since ancient times, while people without such skills transmitted verbally the knowledge of healing and drugs through generations. Verbally transmitted medical practices can be found in the people of South America, Africa or other parts of the world and are referred to as folk medicines in distinction from traditional medicines. In this article, however, both will be referred as traditional medicines. In this report, the importance of field work in research in traditional medicines is described using the examples of Swertia plants. Expanding the scope of studies, such as studies on the kinds of medicines used by different peoples, the parts used, the methods and frequency of uses, etc., would provide evidences of the import routes of cultures and also show a way to develop new medicinal resources. Hopefully young scholars will lead the investigations on ethno-medicines with these thoughts in mind. |
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