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traditional medicine, Cambodia, healers, ingredients, healthcare

Reviving Ancient Healing Arts: Cambodia's Groundbreaking Approach to Healthcare (Video)

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Traditional healers, with their deep knowledge of nature's bounty, have long played a pivotal role in providing healthcare in Cambodia. They use an array of natural ingredients, including dried plants, roots, and tree bark, to create effective remedies for various ailments. For individuals like Rani, who discovered a cyst in her chest, these traditional medicines are not only trusted but considered essential for maintaining health. While there are concerns about over-reliance on these treatments, the public's faith in them remains steadfast, fueled by concerns about the quality and cost of modern medicine.

In a move that seeks to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of traditional medicine, the first traditional medical school was established in Phnom Penh in 2009. Since its inception, the school has graduated 345 students, all trained in the art and science of traditional healing. The curriculum is comprehensive, spanning hygiene and anatomy lessons and field trips to the countryside to learn about medicinal plants. This formalized training supplements and professionalizes the knowledge handed down from ancestors. The aim is to foster an environment where traditional and modern medicine can coexist, working side by side to meet the healthcare needs of Cambodia's population, 80% of whom live in rural areas where access to doctors is limited.

Top image: Traditional medicine ingredients in Cambodia. Source: YouTube Screenshot / AFP.

By Joanna Gillan

 

Comments

Doctors are slaves to a pharmaceutical industry which is gradually making slaves of us all.

Consider what happens when the industry 'investigates' a herbal cure. It looks for a single ingredient, the magic bullet, finds none and declares the evidence either negative or inconclusive.

However, a medicinal herb has many chemicals and some of these may act in unison. Isolating one chemical may simply be the simplest way to ensure the test results are unlikely to be positive.

A medicinal herb is the sum of its parts. The pharmaceutical industry is the sum of the Church of Satan playing the percentages. It shall assist some, so that it may be free to harm more.

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Joanna

Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 

Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching... Read More

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