Africa

• www.africanethnomedicines.net/ojs2/index.php/ajtcam/index
  African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines
  This is a peer-reviewed journal. Full-text PDF files are available for the most recent copy from 2008. Topics include: “Review,” “Conference Report,” and “Research Papers.” This website also has a search function. To read the PDFs, you must Login; however, it does not appear to cost anything.
• www.africanethnomedicines.net
  African Networks on Ethnomedicines
  This website, based out of South Africa, is the home of the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative medicines. The most recent articles published in this journal are available as PDF files. There are links for “Reviewers,” “Electronic Submission,” and “Call for papers.” You can become a member of the website; “[f]ree subscription will [allow]…partial downloads while full subscription will enjoy full download[s].”
• allafrica.com
  allAfrica.com
  This website focuses entirely on news and events related to Africa. Articles about African Traditional Medicine can be accessed through this site. The site boasts about “posting over 1000 stories daily…as well as [having a] searchable archive…dating from 1997.”
• www.blackherbals.com
  Blackherbals.com
  Multi-faceted site that boasts links to a store, an “African Traditional Clinic” and various articles. Of particular interest, are links to relevant groups, including “Kaddenethca” and the “Marcus-Garvey Pan-Afrikan Institute.” There is also a link related to “Black History” and a link to information about “The Global African Community.” The site is based out of Uganda, but seeks to reach Afrikan people everywhere.
• www.mohcw.gov.zw/traditional medicine/traditional medicine.htm
  Ministry of Health and Child Welfare: Department of Traditional Medicine, Zimbabwe
  This is the official, governmental website for Traditional Medicine in Zimbabwe. The information on the website is brief and broken into three parts: “Vision,” “Mission,” and “Objectives.” Importantly, the main goal of the Department is to be “to Improve access to and rational use of safe, efficacious and quality traditional medicines in Zimbabwe.”
• www.health.sl/drwebsite/publish/page_327.shtml
  Ministry of Health & Sanitation, Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone
  This link is to a news article on the Ministry’s web page regarding the implementation of a national policy on Traditional Medicine. The article is dated August 2007 and is informative on a basic level. There are many pictures associated with the article. Additionally, on the left hand side of the page, there are numerous links to other health-related subjects.
• www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/policy/health.htm
  A National Health Plan for South Africa
  Created in May 1994, this document discusses six general topics:
  1. “A Vision for Health in South Africa,”
  2. “Analysis of Existing Situation,”
  3. “Health Policies,”
  4. “The National Health System,”
  5. “Management Support System,” and
  6. Health Priorities. The document was prepared by the ANC, or African National Congress, with WHO and UNICEF. Traditional Medicine is listed as a bullet point under “Health Policies.”
• www.prometra.org/english.html
  PROMETRA, The Association for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine
  With a headquarters in Dakar, Senegal, PROMETRA is “an international non governmental organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of African traditional medicine.” The website offers links to research, “National Chapters” of PROMETRA, a “Publications Library,” and “Upcoming Events.”
• www.prometra.org/Documents/ToolsforINstitutionalizingTraditionalMedicineinHealth.pdf
  Tools for Institutionalizing Traditional Medicine in Health Systems in WHOAfrican Region
  This .pdf file is offered by PROMETRA, an organization whose website is already on our list. Copyrighted in 2004, this document discusses National Policies on Traditional Medicine, the “Legal Framework” surrounding Traditional Medicine, Ethics and Traditional Medicine, and a “Master Plan” to develop Traditional Medicine.
• www.afro.who.int/trm/index.html
  Traditional Medicine Programme (TRM), WHO/AFRO
  Informational site related to how the WHO and AFRO seek to utilize Traditional Medicine in the practice and performance of health care. Also includes a link to the “Declaration on Traditional Medicine.”
• www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/iknt91.pdf
  World Bank, IK Notes: Traditional Medicine Programmes in Madagascar
  This .pdf file is factually informative. It discusses the general outline of Madagascar’s National Policy on Traditional Medicine, groups involved in “medicinal plant research,” “strategies” for implementing the National Policy, and legal structures surrounding Traditional Medicine.

Legal

• www.scidev.net/dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=policybrief&policy=57&dossier=7
  Policy Brief: South African legislation on traditional medicine by Sibongile Pefile
  With an emphasis on “programmes to regulate and promote systems of indigenous knowledge,” this document discusses the legal and practical reality of traditional medicine in South Africa. Written in March 2005, the author, Ms. Pefile, works for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa.
• etd.unisa.ac.za/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-04112005-143752/unrestricted/05Thesis.PDF
  Traditional Medicine and it accommodation in the South Africa national health care system with special attention to possible statutory regulation by Ortrun Meissner
  This .pdf file is a student thesis from the University of South Africa. You can browse and search student theses through the University of South Africa through the UnisaETD system. Authored by Ortrun Meissner, this particular thesis discusses “Global Perspectives on Traditional Health Care Systems,” the South African Health Care System, “Traditional Healing in South Africa,” “The Healer’s Role in Witchcraft and Sorcery in a Legal Context,” and the “South African Bill of Rights” as it relates to Traditional Medicine.
  Related website with links and abstract:etd.unisa.ac.za/ETD-db/ETD-desc /describe?urn=etd-04112005-143752
• alp.org.za.dedi20a.your-server.co.za/images/upload/20040909_TradHeal2.pdf
  Traditional Medicines and Traditional Healers in South Africa
  This .pdf file is a “discussion paper prepared for the Treatment Action Campaign and AIDS Law Project.” The author is Marlise Richter, a researcher for the AIDS Law Project. Last revised in May 2004, the paper discusses the intersection of three issues: AIDS, Traditional Medicine, and human rights.

For Practitioners’ Research

• www.afronets.org/index.php
  African Networks for Health Research and Development
  Online resource for news and events related to Afro Nets as well as an access point for “documents” and “archives” relevant or sponsored by Afro Nets. There is also “search” function and a listing of related Internet links.
• www.muchs.ac.tz/itm/index.htm
  Institute of Traditional Medicine, MUCHS Tanzania
  The site is as much an explanation of the Institute of Traditional Medicine as it is a way to access information about Traditional Medicine in Africa, specifically Tanzania. Topics of interest include HIV/AIDS, Type 2 Diabetes, and anticonvulsants.
• www.ticahealth.org/
  Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health, TICAH
  Formed in Kenya, this organization is multi-disciplinary, with an interest in health, culture, and art. This website offers links to “Projects” and “Publications” operated by TICAH.

• www.cintcm.ac.cn/gam/gamy/e_zyyjy.html
  China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine
  Located in Beijing, China, this is an educational institution in which the major focus is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Academy itself is composed of three “units:” scientific, clinical, and educational. The Academy is supported by a comprehensive library, claiming upwards of 300,000 titles.
• www.integratedmedicineindia.org/index.html
  World Association of Integrated Medicine
  Educational organization that focuses on teaching and training for integrated medicine. On this website, you can learn about courses and degrees as well as address the practical aspects of getting an education, including fees, procedures, and forms. The organization is based out of India and was founded by Dr. Nagendra Prasad Dubey.
• mohfw.nic.in/annualrep english/achap2.pdf
  Annual Report 2006-2007, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
  In this document, Part II deals specifically with Indian Traditional Medicine and discusses the National Policy related to Traditional Medicine. Other topics discussed in relation to Traditional Medicine include “Mainstreaming AYUSH in [the] National Health Care System” and “Gender Issues.” The report can be accessed through the Ministry’s webpage (mohfw.nic.in) under the heading “Reports and Publications.”
• www.aptmnet.com/index.jsp
  Asia-Pacific Traditional Medicine and Herbal Technology NetWork (APTMNET)
  This website has links including “Natural Medicine Resources,” “Standards and Regulations,” “Enterprises and Products,” “Education and Training,” “Research and Development,” and “Business and Market.” Countries represented include Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• indianmedicine.nic.in/index.asp
  AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India
  Informational site related to AYUSH, an Indian governmental organization interested in education, research, farming, and standards related to Traditional Medicine. Types of therapies emphasized include Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
• www.nature-cure.com.sg
  Chinese Nature-Cure Institute
  This group is based in Singapore and is interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acu-Massage, “Qigong-Meditation and Taiji Health Program.” Through the website, you can make a treatment appointment, learn about “Home Study” courses, and buy textbooks.
• www.fivelement.com/index.html
  Five Element Acupuncture
  This website is dedicated specifically to “Five Element Acupuncture.” The site is for practitioners and patients. On the site, you can find a practitioner, find related book titles, find educational courses, and learn about “Five Element Acupuncture.” Also, there is a forum for practitioners.
• www.globinmed.com/IMRContent/default.aspx
  GlobinMed Infohub
  This website describes itself as an “e-database” that offers diverse information regarding integrated medicine. Topics include “Conservation,” “Intellectual Property Rights,” “Traditional & Complementary Medicine,” and “Training & Education.” There is also a portion of the website dedicated to “News & Events.” The site is based out of Malaysia.
• www.aifo.it/english/proj/traditional_medicine/Presentations/day1/Intro-TM_Bhutan-wangchuk.pdf
  An Introduction to Traditional Medicine Services in Bhutan
  The author of this .pdf file, which is organized like a PowerPoint presentation, is Dorji Wangchuk of ITMS (Institute of Traditional Medicine Services), located in Thimphu. The Traditional Medicine of Bhutan is described as a “holistic approach based on Buddhism.” The document itself has very basic information about Bhutanese Traditional Medicine and also illustrates the National Policy and some of the financial, practical, and institutional issues surrounding Traditional Medicine in Bhutan.
• www.islamset.com/healnews/trdmed/tradition.html
  Islamset – Traditional Medicine
  This link is to a portion of a larger website dedicated to Islamic medicine and Islamic views about medicine in general. This particular link is to a site that is an amalgamation of diverse information related to Islamic Traditional Medicine.
• www.baigal.com
  Mongolian Traditional Medicine
  This is a slightly confusing, though potentially informative website. Strictly informational, this website has a large list, in many different languages, of websites related to Mongolian Traditional Medicine. There is a tentative link to Indian medicine with some references to a journal (mentioned in another website on this list) related to Indian Traditional Medicine.
• www.whoindia.org/LinkFiles/AYUSH_NPolicy-ISM&H-Homeopathy.pdf
  National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy-2002
  This .pdf file emphasizes development and integration of Indian Traditional Medicine alongside the “modern medicines.” Indian Traditional Medicine is understood as including Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, and Naturopathy.
• www.plantcultures.org/index.html
  Plant Cultures
  This website is aimed at the cultures of Britain and South Asia, with the specific intent of fostering connections between the two cultures. Though not dedicated specifically to Traditional Medicine, topics related to Traditional Medicine such as “the ancient traditions of South Asian medicine” and “the role of sacred plants such as holy basil” are discussed.
• www.emro.who.int/RC48/RC485.htm
  Technical Paper: Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
  This site can be found through the “Resolutions” link on the home page for theWHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. Within the document, under the heading of “Enhancing Community Action,” there is an interesting discussion of “community health workers,” a designation that can be substituted for “traditional health workers.”
• dharma-haven.org/tibetan/medicine.htm
  Tibetan Medicine Resources
  This is an internet site dedicated to Tibetan medicine. The site has various foci, including “News,” “Internet,” and “Training.” There seems to be a lot of information on the site and many links to other sites and more information.
• 203.200.90.6/tkdl/langdefault/common/home.asp
  Traditional Knowledge Digital Library
  Harbor for knowledge that has been previously passed down through oral traditions. The Traditional Medicines emphasized are those related to Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Yoga. It is a classification system and database. You need a user name and password to login.

Legal

• vbqppl4.moj.gov.vn/law/en/2001_to_2010/2003/200311/200311030002_en /lawdocument_view
  Approving the National Policy on Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Till the Year 2010
  Located on the “National Legal Database” website for Vietnam, this page is the Internet copy of a legal document regarding the Vietnamese National Policy on Traditional Medicine. The document closes with a “strategy on development of Traditional Medicine.” This document was created in 2003.
• http://www.grain.org/brl/?docid=573&lawid=1495
  Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act
  This website is a copy of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act enacted in the Philippines in 1997. There are also links in the sidebar to other regions and other types of laws, all related to Traditional Medicine or to bodies of knowledge related to Traditional Medicine, such as Biodiversity laws, patent laws, and Indigenous peoples’ rights.

For Practitioners’ Research

• http://www.itmonline.org
  The Institute for Traditional Medicine
  The website provides information about the ITM, while mainly being geared towards practitioners of Traditional Medicine. Emphasis is given to Traditional Chinese Medicine, European Herbs, Ayurvedic Herbs, and Body Theology. This site also gives access to a “Practitioner Reference Guide,” which is a list of practitioners of Traditional Medicine located in the United States and Canada.
• http://www.ittm.org
  International Trust for Traditional Medicine
  Located in Kalimpong, India, this educational organization emphasizes traditional medicine related to Tibetan and Ayurvedic traditions. Interested in research, this organization also publishes a magazine called AyurVijnana.
• http://www.itmrc.org
  Traditional Medicine & Materia Medica Research Center (TMRC)
  Associated with the Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, located in Tehran, Iran, this website is related to ideas about Iranian Traditional Medicine. The site is purely informational, with links to research, related websites, books and publications.

Services

• http://www.acupuncture.com
  Acupuncture.com
  This is an informational site for patients, practitioners, and students. While offering basic answers for patients, such as “Herbal Remedies” and “Conditions A-Z,” there are also links to research, state laws, and even “Practice Building.” There is also a link to a sister site that serves as a store products related to Traditional Chinese Medicine may be purchased.
• http://www.tcmtreatment.com/index.htm
  International Comprehensive Services of Traditional Chinese Medicine from China
  This website acts as an access hub for the multiple services offered by International Comprehensive Services, located in Hunan province, China. The services offered are for, but not limited to, “readers, students, doctors, patients, [and] wholesalers.”

• http://www.nctm.com.au
  National College of Traditional Medicine
  Located in Australia, this college offers courses in Traditional Medicine for people and animals, namely horses and dogs. For humans, course offerings focus on hypnotherapy, massage, naturopathy, nutrition, Western herbal medicine, and nutrition. This website is mostly informational, though you can also purchase some selected books and CDs and download enrollment forms.

For Practitioners’ Research

• http://www.atms.com.au
  Australian Traditional Medicine Society
  This website includes opportunities to find practitioners, colleges, and seminars related to Traditional Medicine in Australia. There are also links to and descriptions of select Traditional Medicines, including Massage Therapy and Naturopathy.
• http://www.traditionalmedicine.net.au/index.html
  Traditional Medicine Network
  Located in Australia, this educational organization has three foci: Traditional Healing, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Graeco-Arabic Medicine. Specifically interested in forging alliances with traditional healers all over the world.

• http://www.jcm.co.uk
  The Journal of Chinese Medicine
  Based out of the United Kingdom, this website is extensive. While there are free PDFs for visitors to view, you can also purchase a subscription to the full journal. In addition to offering a Journal, the website also boasts “Acupuncture…Tea…[and] Book Shop[s].” You can also buy “Herbal Supplies” and “Products for the non-practitioner.” You may also find links to other websites related to TCM through a link at the bottom of the page.
• http://www.reflexeurope.org
  Reflexology in Europe Network
  Governing body website that serves as an umbrella for everything related to Reflexology in Europe. There are links to education, conferences, and research. Additionally, there is a list of member organizations.

Legal

• http://www.cam-cancer.org
  CAM-Cancer
  Directed towards practitioners, this site provides “information on complementary and alternative medicine…relating to cancer.” Based in Europe, the website follows the use of, among others, “diet and nutrition,” “mind-body medicine,” and “energy medicine” to treat cancer.
• http://www.ehpa.eu/index.html
  European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association
  This is the official site for European practitioners of Traditional Medicine. This site does not have a lot of information about Traditional Medicine, but does have some good links to official organizations related to Traditional Medicine in Europe.
• http://www.lmhint.net
  Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis (LMHI)
  This is the website for LMHI, “an international homeopathic medical society established in” Sweden. The group publishes a report called “The Liga Letter;” the most recent available online is from October 2001. Links on the site include “Special Committees” and “Congress Conference Search.”

For Practitioners’ Research

• http://www.cieer.org
  Centre for International Ethnomedicinal Education and Research
  This website offers links to “scientific societies,” “educational resources,” Journals, publications, and news articles. There is also a forum, Listserve, and links to various educational opportunities. You can also join their mailing list.
• http://www.giftsofhealth.org
  Global Initiative for Traditional Systems (GIFTS) of Health
  This organization, based in the UK, is oriented around research and education. They perform and organize funding for projects, conferences, and publications. The site itself is a huge bibliographical resource for a number of topics, including HIV/AIDS and biodiversity, among many others.
• http://www.rccm.org.uk/default.aspx?m=0
  The Research Council for Complementary Medicine
  Interesting links include “Book Reviews,” “Feature Articles,” and “Useful Links.” The Council is made up of professionals and practitioners from all over the world, including Australia, Germany, Israel, Canada, and the United States.
  • Related Articles: http://www.rccm.org.uk/default.aspx?m=0
    This article, entitled “Traditional Health Systems and National Policy,” is by Gerard C. Bodeker, Chair of GIFTS, an organization whose website is already a part of our list, under “Europe” and “Research.”

• http://www.hispanicherbs.com
  California School of Traditional Hispanic Herbalism
  The purpose of this school, located in Richmond, CA is to “teach and preserve the healing traditions of the curanderos and curanderas (folk healers) of California.” The website is easy to use, with easy-to-follow links. Online classes are offered.
• http://InstituteOfTraditionalMedicine.com
  Institute of Traditional Medicine
  Located in Toronto, Canada, ITM is an educational institution that offers diplomas in Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Asian Body Work Therapy, and Traditional Arts. They also sponsor clinics and seminars related to traditional medicine. The Institute is also supported by a library and bookstore.
• http://www.amfoundation.org/index.htm
  Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc.
  This website is an introduction to the Alternative Medicine Foundation, a nonprofit organization located in Potomac, Maryland. The website has a large information database about alternative medicine, including information related to selecting a doctor, different treatment “modalities,” and certain diseases. Includes links to HerbMed, TibetMed, and AskMed, information databases developed and maintained by AMFI.
• http://www.annieappleseedproject.org
  Annie Appleseed Project
  This website is dedicated to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer treatment. There are many links, including some to conferences, cancer-related issues, studies, and a particular section for health care practitioners.
• http://www.arctichealth.org/index.html
  Arctic Health
  Sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, this site is informational and meant to address the “issues affecting the health and well-being of our planet’s northern-most inhabitants.” The website includes links to publications, research, “health topics,” “traditional healing”, “environmental health”, “Telehealth/Telemedicine,” international, federal, tribal, state, and city governments, and academic organizations.
• http://herbalandalternativemedicine.com
  Herbal and Alternative Medicine.com
  On this site, you can find news articles from around the world, resources such as blogs, stores, and a web directory, and products and archives. You can search the site by categories, including “Cancer” and “Weight Loss.” This site is run by an individual with no apparent qualifications in terms of alternative and traditional medicine beyond personal experience. The administrator is based out of Canada.
• http://www.massagemag.com
  Massage Magazine
  In addition to articles, there are links to schools and research related to massage. You can sign up for a free newsletter as well as browse links to news articles about massage. The magazine is based in Florida.
• http://nccam.nih.gov
  National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  This is a United States government website of the National Institutes of Health agency including news, research, and links related to Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
• http://nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org
  National Center for Homeopathy
  Based in Virginia, this website highlights all of the various efforts of the National Center for Homeopathy. On the site, you can find a homeopath and shop in their store. You can also read blogs, articles, news stories, and learn about different resources, including educational opportunities and professional societies. You can become a member and gain more access to the site.

Legal

• http://www.camlawblog.com
  Complementary & Alternative Medicine Law Blog
  This blog is published by Michael H. Cohen, Esq. The range of covered topics is diverse and includes, but is not limited to, “Clinical Research,” “Dietary Supplements,” “Insurance,” and “Mental Health Care.” You can subscribe to the blog. Additionally, near the bottom of the page, there are links to other, related blogs. Mr. Cohen is based out of Cambridge, MA.
• http://www.michaelhcohen.com/index.html
  Law Offices of Michael H. Cohen
  These law offices have “expertise in health law, with a unique focus on alternative, complementary, and integrative medical therapies.” Based in Cambridge, MA, this group is also affiliated with the Complementary & Alternative Medicine Law Blog, a site featured on this list. This is a very well-developed site, with links to FAQs and information about the law practice and the attorneys.
• http://www.amro.who.int/English/AD/THS/OS/INDI49eng.pdf
  Harmonization of Indigenous and Conventional Health System in the Americas
  Created in 2002 by WHO and PAHO, this document, seeks to explore “strategies for incorporating indigenous perspectives, medicines, and therapies into primary health care.” This document is extensive and deals with, among other ideas, “harmonization of laws…concepts…and practices.” There is also an anthropological element, as “sociocultural analysis” figures prominently in the document.
• http://www.traditionalmedicinescongress.com
  Traditional Medicines Congress
  This website is dedicated to the TMC, a body interested mostly in the regulation in all aspects of Traditional Medicine. The website is strictly informative, with links to its sponsoring organizations; though the website does not offer a lot of information on the different types of Traditional Medicine, it does offer legal perspectives.
• http://www.traditionalmedicines.info
  Voices for Traditional Herbal Medicine
  This website is devoted to legal and legislative issues related to Traditional Medicine. The site pays particular attention to the Traditional Medicines Congress. The site seems to be supported by members from the United States and Canada.

For Practitioners’ Research

• http://www.commonweal.org/index.html
  Commonweal
  Informational site about Commonweal, a nonprofit organization interested in “health and environmental research.” Located in California, Commweal’s website offers links to 13 of their wide-ranging programs, from their Biomonitoring Resource Center to Women’s Health and the Environment.
• http://www.camresearch.net
  Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research
  This site is divided into different “explorers,” including “Literature Explorer,” “Jobs Explorer,” “Link Explorer,” “News Explorer,” and “Laboratory Explorer.” With each of these different divisions, there is a search function attached. Through the site, you can also sign up for free journals, sign up for a free newsletter, and view advertisements by such reputable sites as Amazon.com.
• http://www.johnco.com/nativel/bio/tramed.html
  First Nation Information Project: Native Links (FNIP): JOHNCO
  This website is a compilation of bibliographic references related to “First Nations” in Canada. The site falls under the umbrella of the “First Nation Information Project.” The parent site is: http://www.johnco.com/nativel
• http://www.iscmr.org
  International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR)
  You must become a member to gain full access to the website. Links include: “Membership,” “Events,” “Publications,” and “Journals and Partners.” There is a “What’s New” navigation bar on the right hand side of the page that offers links to news announcements and employment. Interestingly, this society is interested in Complementary, Traditional, and Integrated Medicine.
  • Related website: http://www.iscmr.org/publications/WHO_TM.html
    Bibliographical list of all WHO Publications regarding Traditional Medicine, organized by general topic (e.g. Acupuncture, National Policy).
• http://www.maps.org/mmj
  Medical Marijuana Research
  The site offers links to studies, lawsuits, research, news, events, and related sites. There are also links to “Psychedelic Art,” books, and publications. There is a lot of information on this site in addition to an online store.

Services

• http://www.ahpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=36
  American Herbal Products Association
  The AHPA is a “trade association” that represents the herbal products industry. This website is an information resource for what the AHPA does, current events related to herbal products, and knowledge about herbal products. Offered links include “News,” “Herbal Knowledgebank,” “Hoodia Methods,” “Job Board,” and “Bookstore.”
• http://www.native-languages.org/herbs.htm
  American Indian Herbs, Dyes, and Animal Products
  This website provides links to American Indian sites related to “Indian Herbs and Dyes,” “Indian Feathers, Furs, and Animal Products,” “American Indian Medicine Bags,” “Indian Herb Books,” and “Indian Herb Links.” This site is purely informational.
• http://www.apothecarytinctura.com
  Apothecary Tinctura
  Located in Denver, CO, this website offers links to shopping, classes, articles and retreats sponsored by the Apothecary Tinctura. The major focus appears to be “organic herbs and aromatherapy.”
• http://www.chinesemedicinesampler.com
  The Chinese Medicine Sampler & Online Diagnosis
  This website “is operated by Health Balance L.L.C….a for-profit firm located in Tucson, Arizona.” Dealing solely with Traditional Chinese Medicine, links include “Theory of TCM,” “Online Diagnosis,” “Acupuncture,” and “Pathology Guide.” The website seems very in-depth and well-organized.
• http://www.kanherb.com
  KanHerb Company
  Through this website, practitioners order herbs and treatments for their patients and the patients come to website to pick up what has been ordered for them. People can also use this site to find a practitioner, through various links. The company is based in California.
• http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/?id=13
  Traditional Medicinals
  This site is dedicated to Herbal Medicine. “Traditional Medicinals” is a brand name based in California that offers a variety of teas and other products, including laxatives, available for purchase. There is also a brief educational discussion of Traditional Herbal Medicine on the site.

• http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb
  Ayahuasca Forums
  This is an online community of people interested in Ayahuasca. You have to join to comment, but you can read the forums without joining. The forums are divided by topic; the topics include, but are not limited to “Shamanism,” “Information,” and “Poems/Writings.”
• http://lila.info
  Lila: Exploring Visionary Art, Shamanism and the Transpersonal Vision
  A really interesting site, self-described “as a resource for people exploring the ‘medicine culture’ of visionary art, transpersonal, spiritual & shamanic forms of creativity and healing of the whole being.” Some examples of the art are available on the site. There are also some informational links.
• http://www.lachealthsys.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=203
  Ministry of Public Health and Population, Haiti: Strategic Plan for Health Sector Reform, March 2004
  This .pdf file discusses, among other topics, the “National Health Policy,” “Reorganization of the Health System,” and a “Starting Point for Reform.” Incorporation and utilization of Traditional Medicine is listed as one of the “Strategic Lines of National Health Policy.”

• www.CMJournal.org
  Chinese Medicine
  This is “an online journal published by BioMed Central” and claims to be “the official journal of the International Society for Chinese Medicine.” You can submit an article yourself or view other articles. Full-text PDFs are available without subscribing.
• www.AltMedicine.org
  Complementary & Alternative Medicine Health Treatment
  Huge database of information about many different kinds of Alternative and Traditional Medicine. There is a navigation toolbar on the left side of the page that will take visitors to information about topics ranging from Ayurvedic Medicine to Shiatsu.
• www.erowid.org
  EROWID, Humans and Psychoactives
  This site documents an immense amount of information about psychoactive drugs. The relation to traditional medicine is mention and explanation of the effects of ayahuasca, a plant prevalent in the Traditional Medicine of some cultures in South America. It is purely informative and non-judgmental, but the site does raise questions about knowledge taboos.
• www.EthnoBioMed.com/home
  Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
  On this website, you can browse and submit articles, follow links to more information, and search the journal for information. The Journal itself is solely an online endeavor, “peer reviewed” and “open access.”
• www.gfmer.ch/Medical_journals/Traditional_medicine_and_complementary_alternative_medicine.htm
  Geneva Foundation, List of Traditional Medicine Journals
  This link is to a section of a larger website for the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research. This site offers links to about 30 online journals related to Traditional Medicine, most of which are completely free.
• www.Healing-Arts.org
  The Healing Center Online
  Most impressive about this website is the depth and breadth of the information offered. The site is basically a reservoir of information related to specific health issues, the Traditional Medicine of specific cultures, and other tangents of specific interest to the site’s creator. It is a potential treasure trove of information, though it is still under construction.
• http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gm=20
• www.TheHolisticCare.com
  The Holistic Care
  This is a very informative website and describes itself as a “web portal.” That is an apt description, as most of the home page of the website is composed of brief descriptions of all complementary medicines. The website puts particular emphasis on yoga and energy medicines, offering a forum and many advertisements from various websites. Otherwise, the website is strictly informational.
• www.HolisticMed.com
  Holistic Medicine
  Self described as “The Internet’s Premier Resource for Holistic Medicine,” the site itself is set up very simply with basic links to a lot of information. Articles, case histories, news, research, weblinks, and forums all figure prominently on the website. Scrolling down, some ideas listed under “Major Sections” are broken down even more. Especially interesting is the huge list of usenet newsgroups and discussion groups – the opportunity for communication is incredible.
• www.hrhResourceCenter.org
  HRH Global Resource Center
  This site is “a digital library devoted to human resources for health (HRH).” Sponsored by USAID, you can search the site by “Subject,” “Geographic Focus,” or “Resource Type.” The site is not dedicated specifically to Traditional Medicine, but there are many articles about Traditional Medicine. The site is a wonderful resource and you do not have to join in order to view the full .pdf files.
• www.LiebertPub.com/publication.aspx?pub_id=233
  Medicinal Acupuncture, Journal
  You must subscribe to view past issues of the journal. The most recent edition is free to view.
• www.LiebertPub.com/publication.aspx?pub_id=26
  Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
  You must subscribe to view past issues of the journal. The most recent edition is free to view.
• www.LiebertPub.com/publication.aspx?pub_id=38
  Journal of Medicinal Food
  You must subscribe to view past issues of the journal. The most recent edition is free to view.
• NAPRALERT.org
  NAPRALERT℠
  This is a relational database of all natural products, including ethnomedical information, pharmacological/biochemical information of extracts of organisms in vitro, in situ, in vivo, in humans (case reports, non-clinical trials) and clinical studies. Similar information is available for secondary metabolites from natural sources.
• www.NaturalStandard.com
  Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine
  Informational site offering a list of books you can purchase, a blog, a dictionary, and on-line educational resources among other things. You must subscribe and login to access the full website, however, you can also request free newsletters over the Internet.
• http://www.nativeweb.org
  NativeWeb
  The site is a database of information related to indigenous cultures all over the world. Not related specifically to Traditional Medicine.
• PeoplesPharmacy.com
  The People’s Pharmacy
  This website is the Internet arm of “The People’s Pharmacy,” which is also presented on the radio, in newspapers, and as a series of books. It is an substantive resource that is often quite simple, easy to understand, and approachable. You can ask questions, or you can simply read some of the offered articles – a search function is available.
• WHO.int/medicines/areas/traditional/collabcentres/en
  WHO Collaborating Centers for Traditional Medicine
  This is the list of Centers for Traditional Medicine that officially collaborate with WHO.
• WorldMassageForum.com
  World Massage Forum
  This site offers a videos, news, events, articles, and advertisements all related to massage around the world. There are also links to educational opportunities, research, and a forum that you can participate in. The links to education and research enlarge their scope to include not only massage, but also other “bodybased therapies.”

Legal

• www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii
  UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UNPFII
  This website is not dedicated specifically to Traditional Medicine, but sometimes discusses how Traditional Medicine relates to Indigenous Issues.
• www.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jh2943e/#Jh2943e
  WHO, Legal Status of Traditional Medicine around the World
  A comprehensive list of each country in the world and, as the title suggests, a description of the “legal status of Traditional Medicine” in that country. When you click on a country, the information about that country is available at the bottom of the page.
• whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2005/9241593237.pdf
  WHO, National Policy on Traditional Medicine and Regulation of Herbal Medicines: Report of a WHO Global Survey
  This .pdf includes the Executive Summary plus links to the entire document (these links can be accessed through the Table of Contents). This report was published in 2005 and is based on responses from 141 countries. The report addresses the following ideas as they relate to Traditional Medicine: challenges, lack of knowledge, national policy, and regulation. There is also a specific emphasis on herbal medicine.
• www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs134/en
  WHO, Traditional Medicine
  This is a WHO “Fact Sheet” regarding Traditional Medicine all over the world. It briefly outlines WHO definitions, policies, and research projects related to Traditional Medicine. Contact information is also available.
• whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/WHO_EDM_TRM_2002.1.pdf
  WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005
  This .pdf file was copyrighted in 2002. It discusses definitions of Traditional Medicine, issues surrounding the use of Traditional Medicine, including national policies and safety, the role of WHO in terms of Traditional Medicine, resources for Traditional Medicine, and the WHO “Strategy and Plan of Action 2002-2005” that addresses WHO’s role in the issues, such as national policy and safety, previously discussed in the paper.
• www.gfmer.ch/TMCAM/WHO_Minelli/Index.htm
  World Health Organization: The mandate of a specialized agency of the United Nations
  Located with the website for the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, which is already on our list, this document is the dissertation written by Elisabetta Minelli at the Catholic University of Milan. Although the document is primarily about the WHO in general, the section about Traditional Medicine is very informative and offers an analysis and extrapolation of many WHO documents related to Traditional Medicine, including the Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005. The paper would also be a great bibliographic reference.
  • Related site: www.gfmer.ch/TMCAM/WHO_Minelli/P3-3.htm
    This is the section of Ms. Minelli’s paper specifically geared towards Traditional Medicine.

For Practitioners’ Research

• EthnoMed.org/ethnomed
  EthnoMed
  Geared towards medical professionals, the site “contains information about cultural beliefs, medical issues and other related issues pertinent to the health care of recent immigrants to Seattle or the US.” There are links to pages regarding specific cultures and in fact, the intended purpose of the website is as an immediate resource, to be used in a clinical setting. As a medical text would be consulted, so should this, for cultural information.

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This may seem like the results of a study by Professor Obvious, but a research team out of McGill University Health Center in Montreal have determined that smoking marijuana might help chronic pain sufferers manage their symptoms. However, there are always caveats that come with this kind of work, and this “small study” is no exception.  —KA

Reuters via Fox News:

Ware and his colleagues recruited 21 adults who were suffering from chronic neuropathic pain after an injury or surgery. Three times a day, for five days, participants took a 25 milligram hit of one of four treatments: marijuana that was 2.5 percent, 6 percent, or 9.4 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or a 0 percent placebo. All patients rotated in random order through the four different treatments, with a nine-day break between each one.
During each treatment, participants were asked about their pain, sleep patterns, mood, and overall quality of life.

Patients smoking 9.4 percent THC marijuana reported lower pain scores than when smoking the placebo – on average, 5.4 versus 6.1 on a scale from 0 (“no pain”) to 10 (“worst possible pain”). They also reported that they slept better, and were less anxious and depressed than when they were on the placebo.

When smoking marijuana with moderate doses of THC, participants generally reported improved symptoms, but there was no significant difference in their relief from these doses compared to relief from the placebo treatment. There was also no difference in the quality of life or mood scores that participants reported when they were on any of the four treatments.

The highest dose of THC produced the most side effects, which included headaches, dry eyes, and a burning sensation in the regions where patients had pain.

More here:

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Because the beta blockers tended to make me confused and non-focused I wondered if they were an influence in the development of Alzheimer’s in any manner, positive or negative:  Here is what I am finding.

First the most damming of all:

Beta-blockers, once widely used to lower blood pressure, may actually lead to heart problems, researchers have warned.

The drugs work by slowing the heart rate and so reducing blood pressure – which has been shown to have beneficial effects on people who have had a heart attack or who have heart failure.

However, the latest study suggests beta-blockers do not help people suffering from hypertension.

Researchers looked at nine major U.S. clinical trials involving treatment for high blood pressure.

Participants treated with beta-blockers achieved lower heart rates than did other patients. However, heart rate lowering with beta-blockers increased the risks of dying and of having a heart attack or stroke, and developing heart failure, according to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The slower the heart rate, the greater was the risk, the researchers said.

Go here for the science on the below article:

“We showed that we needed the presence of beta-2 adrenergic receptors to get the increase in the AMPA-mediated response,” Cox said.

Further experiments showed that amyloid-beta does bind to the beta-2 adrenergic receptor.

Previous studies had found that blocking the AMPA receptor could alleviate the misfiring caused by amyloid plaques in the brain. But the AMPA receptor, which responds to glutamate, is important to learning and memory, so blocking it could also do harm, the researchers said.

“Glutamate is such a ubiquitous neurotransmitter throughout the brain, you can’t simply go in and block its actions because if you do, you can just start rounding up the side effects,” Cox said.

“Once you block the AMPA receptor you’re basically dampening widespread neuronal excitability throughout the whole brain,” Cox said. “Now we have something a bit more specific to latch onto: the beta-2 adrenergic receptor.”

This receptor offers an attractive alternative target because, the researchers found, amyloid-beta binds to a different part of the receptor than that normally engaged by neurotransmitters and hormones. This means it may be possible to stop amyloid-beta from binding to it without hindering the other functions of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor.

Previous studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients who also take beta-blockers tend to see a slower decline in their mental function. These drugs are meant to treat hypertension and other conditions by targeting beta-adrenergic receptors, including beta-2. This finding provides further support to the idea that the beta-2 adrenergic receptor is a key to the ill effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Xiang and Cox stress that the beta-2 adrenergic receptor is almost certainly not the only important player in the damage that occurs in an Alzheimer’s-afflicted brain. But they see it as a promising new potential target for future drug research.

I wonder just what “previous studies” and by whom.  The science above contradicts the conclusions of the previous studies as does the anecdotal information from a practicing MD below: go here for a different take on the cognitive side effects of beta blockers backed up by just by his opinion and not up with recent science.

First, in October 2008, Sharon and Nhoffman raise some important concerns about beta blockers.  Beta blockers are medications that are most commonly used to treat high blood pressure.  (They may also be used to treat migraine headaches.)  ”Beta blocker” is short for beta adrenergic blocker.  Beta adrenergic action causes a constriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and increases blood pressure.  Blocking this activity with these drugs is therefore one of the ways that health practioners treat high blood pressure.  As Sharon and Nhoffman point out, there may be cognitive side effects from this class of drugs.  Slower thinking may occur in the setting of beta blockers, and beta blockers may increase depression.  Either or both of these situations may mimic dementia.  It should be noted that there are numerous beta blockers and some beta blockers have a greater risk for cognitive impairment or depression than others. Therefore, it is important that patients and their health care providers communicate regarding the use of these drugs.

I would like to clear up one misconception regarding beta blockers.  Although beta blocker and beta amyloid (the protein that accumulates in the brain and is associated with Alzheimer’s disease) both contain the adjective beta, they are not related.  The cognitive side effects that may occur with beta blockers are not related to beta amyloid.

Or you can go here for another opinion:

What evidence implicates beta-amyloid?

Supporters of the amyloid hypothesis cite three main lines of evidence:

1. In a few hundred extended families worldwide, scientists have identified rare genes that virtually guarantee an individual will develop Alzheimer’s. All of these genes increase production or accumulation of beta-amyloid. 2. Scientists have developed mice genetically engineered to carry some of the human genes associated with rare forms of inherited Alzheimer’s. The mice develop amyloid plaques as well as difficulty remembering their way through mazes and other symptoms that mimic human Alzheimer’s.

3. Individuals with Down syndrome, who have three copies of the chromosome carrying the APP gene instead of the normal two, almost invariably develop amyloid plaques and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, usually by middle age.

1.800.272.3900 | www.alz.org 1

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1080632/Beta-blockers-lead-heart-problems-new-research-shows.html#ixzz0xHA1ObRA

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