Preface

Traditional medicine has become an important part of the world health care system. It has made outstanding contributions to human health and disease prevention and treatment. According to WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine 2019 , more and more countries are recognizing the role of T&CM in their national health systems. For instance, by 2018, 98 Member States had developed national policies on T&CM, 109 had launched national laws or regulations on T&CM, and 124 had implemented regulations on herbal medicines. Available in almost every country in the world and in a growing demand for its services,traditional medicine contributes to the goal of ensuring universal access to health care through its accessibility, safety and effectiveness.

The inclusion of traditional medicine into the International Classification of Diseases (WHO ICD11-ICTM) symbolizes the WHO recognition of its value and widespread use. It is also a milestone for traditional medicine to be incorporated into the WHO International Health Care System. As the President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I am delighted to know that more than 39 countries around the world offer higher education programs in traditional and complementary medicine (including bachelor, master and doctoral degrees at university level). In recent years, an increasing number of countries have facilitated training programs in traditional medicine, and some have included traditional medicine into academic curriculum for health profession students. As a WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine since 1983, our University has been cooperating with WHO headquarters and the West Pacific Region for a long period of time. We have provided technical support and advisory services on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) terminology standards, guidelines, medical service standards, safety of Chinese Medicine, and training programs in traditional medicine for WHO member states. Every year, more than 3000 international students come to our University to study Traditional Chinese Medicine. We have established an international exchange network system covering more than 50 partners in over 20 countries and territories. In 2009, International Organization for Standardization established a technical committee for Traditional Chinese Medicine (ISO/TC 249), whose Secretariat was based in our University. Since then, this platform has been playing an important role in improving the quality and safety of TCM and other traditional medicine.

To better strengthen international exchange and cooperation in the field of traditional medicine and maximize its role in global health governance and benefit public health and well-being, we hosted the Shanghai Forum for World Traditional Medicine in 2017 and 2019. The forum has facilitated international academic exchanges in the field of traditional medicine. For the purpose of promoting academic ideas among traditional medicine experts, the Organizing Committee of the Forum invited guest speakers of the forum to compile a book named “History, Present and Prospect of World Traditional Medicine”. The book consists of 9 chapters, involving Ayurveda, chiropractic, European Traditional Herbal Medicine, Greco-Arab and Islamic Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Japanese Kampo, Korean Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Thai Medicine.

It is with great pleasure to witness the publication of History, Present and Prospect of World Traditional Medicine . I sincerely hope that the Shanghai Forum for World Traditional Medicine will become an important academic platform for international cooperation and contribute more to the further development of traditional medicine.

Prof. Xu Jianguang, M.D., Ph.D.
President, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine May, 2022