Topic overview

Start with the big picture

The lesson surveys the global scope of TM and the major Asian systems: Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Japan’s Kampo. It compares their organizing concepts and characteristic preparations, including Ayurveda’s tri-dosha framework and forms such as Churna, Bhasma, and Asava. Other practices—such as Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Yoga and Pranayama, African traditional medicine, and Native American ethnomedicine—are also introduced. The topic then turns to governance frameworks and quality concerns, including misidentification, adulteration, and contaminants. Finally, it outlines safety monitoring, evidence and research, and considerations for integrating traditional approaches with conventional medicine.