Practice and teaching of Tibb (Unani medicine) in UK: Opportunities and challenges

International Conference and Exhibition on Traditional & Alternative Medicine

December 09-11, 2013 Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India

Hakim M. Salim Khan

Accepted Abstracts: Altern Integ Med

Abstract :

The last few decades have seen a resurgence of various forms of natural medicine and healing. Some of these long established traditions such as Ayurveda, Tibb (Unani medicine) and traditional Chinese medicine go back to thousands of years. Others such as Osteopathy and Reflexology are new. These diverse forms of natural medicine and healing are labelled together as complementary and alternative Medicine, CAM. Although there is a worldwide resurgence of CAM, however, this phenomenon is particularly noticeable with in Industrial societies of Europe and USA. Resurgence of CAM is posing considerable challenges for these societies, policy makers, dominant Health care practitioners and pharmaceutical industry. These challenges become even more difficult to manage as many of the traditional medicine are from cultures of the East, with their own paradigms, healing methods and diverse materia medica. There are different reasons put forward to explain the rise of CAM, such as: 1. ?Western Medicine? is characterised by continuous rising health costs 2. Accompanied by a relative ineffectiveness of these interventions 3. It is de-humanizing for patients and practitioners The dominant medical establishment including pharmaceutical complex continues to attack CAM of the grounds that it is: I. Unscientific I. Ineffective I. Unsafe I. Dangerous The growth of CAM continues to rise within these societies. However, it is fascinating to note that the great majority of patrons and users of CAM and natural medicine are well educated members of these societies. This paper will explore key opportunities and challenges posed by these developments.

Biography :

Hakim M. Salim Khan is in practice and teaching since 1978. He is the Director for College of Medicine and Healing Arts UK; President of Guild of Naturopathic Iridologists and is a council member of IRCH. He is well respected for his work in traditional Unani Medicine and CAM. He is a published author.