Stetment of the problem

TM is the oldest form of health care in the world and is used in the prevention, and treatment of physical
and mental illnesses. Different societies historically developed various useful healing methods to combat
a variety of health- and life-threatening diseases. TM is also variously known as complementary and
alternative, or ethnic medicine, and it still plays a key role in many countries today

the World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the development and modernization of
traditional medications as an integral part of emerging health systems. The advancing
globalization of traditional medicine has brought about a wide variety of regulatory systems in
different countries and regions. For example, there is a lack of internationally recognized
definitions and standard requirements for quality, safety and effectiveness. Various concepts
have been developed to take into account the specific characteristics of traditional medicines. As
a result, companies face immense barriers when trying to access different markets for their
traditional medicines.

In order to develop meaningful and adequate requirements, an international dialogue on

scientific and regulatory issues is necessary on tradtinal medicen . Such a conversation should
also include topics such as the translation of indications into a different cultural context or
therapeutic setting (e. g., an additional diet or a parallel physical treatment), using material of a
nonherbal origin, and classifying traditional medical proacts products
Eventhoth (WHO) promotes the development of traditional medicen ther is also some of the more
exotic practices in traditional medications , which include the use of animal parts, especially in the vodun
(voodoo) religion in West Africa, generate lurid headlines in the press and reduce the scientific credibility
of traditional medicen.

It has been determined that 80% of the population in Africa makes use of TM—either alone or in
conjunction with conventional medicine [37]. By contrast, traditional Aboriginal medicine in Australia is
in danger of vanishing owing to the prevalence of conventional medicine [38]. In the case of Israel with
its ethnic diversity, modern medicine is prevailing, and TM is declining [39]. Many practitioners of
Western medical science think such TM systems as being short of reliability; however, they are adopted
by the majority of people in the world [35]. It is possible to produce remarkable synergy and yield great
benefits in developing reformed medicines and new drugs by connecting powerful modern scientific
techniques and methods with the reasonable ethnobotanical and ethnomedical experiences of TM.
Herbs may be used as part of a regimen in which physical characteristics (aroma, shape, color) and
attendant rituals (incantation, song) are more important than pharmacological effects. However, effective
strategies for using TAM herbal knowledge are available, as exemplified by a study on antimalarial plants
used by traditional healers in Nigeria (4). The demand for medicinal plants in Africa is increasing
dramatically due to population growth, resulting in the risk of extinction of certain species and an
increasing likelihood of falsification of herbal materials. National policies need to be developed to protect
both patients and endangered species (3) while protecting traditional knowledge and conservation policies
(5)

The cultural and indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in Ethiopia is unevenly distributed among
each community members. Peoples in different geographical location with different religious, linguistic
and cultural backgrounds have their own specific knowledge which in part has gradually entered wide
circulation in the country. In Ethiopian traditional health care system, traditional health practitioners are
categorized as herbalist-healers (Kitelbetash), spiritual orfaithbased healers,bone settlers ( waggesha). In
addition to this, other group of healers is thosethatperform surgical operations such as cauterization,
bleeding, cupping, circumcision, cutting the uvula, scarification, opening abscesses, removing tumors and
bullets, and extracting carious tooth. The various literature available show the significant role of
medicinal plant in primary health care delivery in Ethiopia where 80% of human and 90% of livestock
population depend on traditional medicine similar to many developing countries particularly that of Sub-
Saharan African countries

The extent of use of traditional medicine in Ethiopia is estimated at 90%. With the introduction of modern
medicine in to the country, traditional medicine was usually overlooked by the formal medical health
service system. However, the majority of the Ethiopian population relies basically on traditional medicine
for its primary healthcare needs. In Ethiopia like other parts of the world broad use of traditional medicine
is attributed to its accessibility and affordability.
Signifcanc of the study
Letrature review

why widespread use?

Many factors contribute to the widespread use of TM/CAM, some of which are
discussed

below (8,9).

Accessibility

In some developing countries, TM is much more widely available than allopathic

medicine. For example, in Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, researchers have found
that the ratio of TM practitioners to population was 1:200-1:400 while that of
allopathic practitioners to population ratio was 1: 20,000 or less. Moreover, the
distribution of Allopathic practitioners is uneven and they are located primarily in
cities, or other urban areas. Hence, for much of the rural

population TM is the only available service of Health Care. For example, a survey
conducted by the WHO’s Role Back Malaria program reported in 1998 that 60 %
of children with high fever due to malaria were treated by herbal medicine in
Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia (10).

Affordability

TM is sometimes the only affordable service of health care especially for the
poorest patients. Herbal medicines may be not only relatively cheaper than modern
medicines, but are payable in kind and/or according to the "wealth ” of the client
(11).

Faith in the system

TM is often embedded in the wider belief system and continues to be an integral

and important part of many peoples lives.

A need for alternative or complementary approach to health care

In many developed countries, increased use of CAM indicates that factors other
than tradition and cost are at work. Some of these factors are concern about the
adverse effects of

chemical drugs, questions on the approach and assumptions of allopathic medicine,

changing values and reduced tolerance to paternalism, development of chronic
diseases along with longer on life expectancy for which allopathic treatments could
not provide satisfactory solutions. These factors have created a desire for having
alternative system of medicine with a safer natural base

(12).

Growing economic im portance

In many parts of the world expenditure on TM/CAM is not only significant, but
growing rapidly. The annual world market for herbal medicines based on
traditional knowledge is now

estimated at US$ 60 billion (13).

Significance of the tudy