Traditional Medicine: Safety Evaluation-Need of the Hour

Traditional systems of medicines played a key role in global healthcare system especially in rural areas. Indian traditional medicinal system is one of the oldest traditional medicinal systems in the world. India has six distinctive traditional systems of medicine; they are Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, naturopathy, and homeopathy. In Asian and African countries, up to 80% of the population relies on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. Even though these alternative systems of medicines have wide range of therapeutic uses, improper usage of these medicines leads to serious superfluous effects. Hence, there is a strong need for carrying out safety evaluation of traditional medicines with globally accepted guidelines.