Natural Product Communications
Volume 11, Issue 9, 2016, Pages 1409-1416

Integration of traditional and Western medicine in Vietnamese populations: A review of health perceptions and therapies (Review)

Adorisio S. , Fierabracci A. , Rossetto A. , Muscari I. , Nardicchi V. , Liberati A.M. , Riccardi C. , Sung T.V. , Thuy T.T. , Delfino D.V.*
  • a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, Perugia, 06123, Italy
  • b Immunology and Pharmacotherapy Research, Area Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Viale S. Paolo 15, Rome, 00146, Italy
  • c Foligno Nursing School, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Via Oberdan 123, Foligno (PG), 06034, Italy
  • d Section of Onco-hematology, University of Perugia, Santa Maria Hospital, Terni, 05100, Italy
  • e Clinical Urology and Andrology, Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Perugia, Piazzale Severi, Perugia, 06132, Italy
  • f Section of Onco-hematology, University of Perugia, Santa Maria Hospital, Terni, 05100, Italy
  • g Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Severi, Perugia, 06132, Italy
  • h Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18-Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • i Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18-Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
  • j Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazzale Severi, Perugia, 06132, Italy

Abstract

In Vietnam, two types of traditional medicine (TM) are practiced: Thuoc nam, medicine of the South, and thuoc bac, medicine of the North, both of which are largely based on herbal drugs used by different Vietnamese ethnic groups. This review presents recently published information from various databases regarding TM, especially herbal drugs, and its integration with Western medical practices outside and inside Vietnam. We first discuss the integration of traditional and modern health concepts by Vietnamese immigrants living outside Vietnam. Next, we describe native and emigrated health education and practices of pharmacy students, health professionals, and citizens living in Vietnam. Finally, we report the recent biological validation of medicinal plants and non-herbal therapies emerging from Vietnamese TM and their current and potential medical uses as identified by Western approaches. The main example described here involves utilization of the tree Artocarpus tonkinensis by the ethnic minority of Black Hmong in northern Vietnam, who use a decoction of its leaves to treat arthritis and backache without apparent adverse effects. Our comprehensive review emphasizes that, although Vietnam has a very rich collection of TM practices (particularly the use of herbal drugs), these therapies should be biologically and clinically validated with modern Western methods for optimal integration of Western and traditional medicine in global populations.

Author Keywords

Vietnam Natural products Artocarpus tonkinensis Thuoc bac Thuoc nam herbal medicine Traditional medicine

Index Keywords

antioxidant activity cardiovascular agent Stephania antidiabetic agent earthworm antioxidant immigrant Stephania rotunda Eryngium foetidum Artocarpus tonkinensis medicinal plant Artocarpus Acanthaceae antiinflammatory activity Paederia foetida Pelophylax ridibundus Pseuderanthemum palatiferum Hmong (people) human Health Behavior nonhuman antiinflammatory agent medical practice western medicine traditional medicine Black person plant leaf Viet Nam pharmacy student Review antineoplastic agent herbaceous agent women's health health education health practitioner public health antineoplastic activity
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018735653&partnerID=40&md5=da6236eeaca794d0e161c4d4210c3505
ISSN: 1934578X
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English