Photos and videos

Traditional medicinal ingredients are cleaned, weighed and packed at a licensed facility in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s Ministry of Health regulates herbal products through good manufacturing practice standards, ensuring quality, safety and consistency across Traditional Medicine manufacturing.

At Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, trained staff prepare and blend herbal ingredients according to prescribed formulations within a regulated hospital-based Traditional Medicine service.

The herb garden at Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital supports patient education and care, reflecting the public hospital’s integration of Traditional and Complementary Medicine within Malaysia’s national policy framework.

A patient receives a session of acupuncture at Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital, where traditional and complementary therapies are provided alongside rehabilitation services in line with Malaysia’s national Traditional Medicine integration policy.

In addition to her traditional healing practice, Gogo Phakathi also works as a counsellor at a hospital in Johannesburg. “Doctors and healers learn from each other so that every patient is helped”, she says. Collaboration between traditional and biomedical practitioners strengthens holistic care for the community.

A herbalist grinds roots and leaves in one of Cairo’s traditional apothecaries. Egypt’s Drug Authority now registers herbal medicines and develops national formularies – preserving ancestral remedies while working towards improved quality, safety and evidence-based use.

Inside her indumba – a healing hut used for prayer, consultation and ancestral communication – Gogo Phakathi welcomes community members seeking guidance. Such spaces embody the integration of spirituality, counseling and Traditional Medicine in southern African healing systems.

At a pharmacy in Cairo, Mohamed Ismail fills a prescription that combines contemporary medication with herbal support. Egypt’s evolving health system recognizes patients’ plural choices, encouraging dialogue between doctors, pharmacists and traditional healers.

Master healer Inés Valencia Ramos performs a limpia – a cleansing ritual using herbs, smoke and prayer to restore spiritual harmony. As a teacher at the Totonac School of Traditional Medicine, she transmits centuries-old healing knowledge to younger generations.

The feet of a practitioner and patient hold contact during a Mirimiri session at Manawa Ora Mirimiri and Workshops, Wellington. Grounding through touch expresses the Māori concept of whenua – connection to the earth – in a reminder that healing begins with balance between body, spirit and land.

In the healing garden of the Totonac School of Traditional Medicine, labels identify native plants such as Uncaria tomentosa – known as cojón de gato or cat’s claw. Used traditionally for inflammation and digestive ailments, the plant is now studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Dr Mehari Girmay examines Lippia adoensis, an aromatic Ethiopian herb studied for antimicrobial activity. Researchers test hypotheses from traditional practices in the laboratory to identify compounds that may help fight drug-resistant infections – bridging ancestral practice and microbiology.

Medicinal plants flourish in the garden of ancestral healer Jane Rondón at the Intercultural Hospital of Atalaya. The hospital’s botanical collection supports training of traditional and biomedicine practitioners, showing how Peru links biodiversity to community health and scientific research.

Mohamed Ismail of Cairo uses herbal infusions to support his health while following medical advice from his doctor. His story reflects how many people in Egypt combine traditional and contemporary approaches to achieve balance and well-being in daily life.

At home in Cairo, Mohamed Ismail prepares a warm herbal infusion from plants purchased at a local shop. Simple daily practices like herbal teas remain an important bridge between family tradition and preventive health.

At the Intercultural Hospital of Atalaya, midwife Georgina Díaz supports a postpartum mother with herbal infusions that ease pain and stimulate lactation. “Before, there was no respect”, she says. “Now ancestral knowledge is part of our hospital.” The model combines Indigenous practice with contemporary maternity care.

At Edu Herbal Clinic in Mankessim, a practitioner applies a freshly prepared herbal poultice to a patient’s leg. Using locally sourced plants, Ghana’s traditional healers combine ancestral remedies with hygiene and quality standards to safely treat pain and inflammation.

A teaching model in Dr Hakan Eraltan’s Istanbul clinic shows acupuncture points used for pain, migraine and stress. Trained in both biomedicine and traditional healing, Dr Eraltan exemplifies Türkiye’s integrative approach to patient-centred care.

Moxibustion tools in Dr Hakan Eraltan’s Istanbul clinic illustrate a practice rooted in east Asian medicine and now regulated under Türkiye’s traditional and complementary medicine framework. Burning dried mugwort (moxa) near acupuncture points is used to stimulate circulation and ease chronic pain.

After treatment, Dr Hakan Eraltan checks patient Deren Erelçin’s pulse and heart rate. Integrative follow-up illustrates how traditional and biomedical assessments combine to evaluate outcomes and ensure patient safety in Türkiye’s complementary medicine clinics.

A patient receives a therapeutic oil massage before a hijama (cupping) session in Köyceğiz. Under Türkiye’s national regulations on traditional and complementary medicine, certified practitioners integrate such therapies safely alongside rehabilitation and pain-management services.

Himalayan Amchi healers at Shey Monastery near Leh perform golden needle therapy, a traditional Sowa Rigpa treatment to rebalance the body and relieve pain.

At the close of a hijama session in Köyceğiz, a practitioner disinfects and dresses the treated area under sterile conditions. Türkiye’s Ministry of Health regulates such complementary procedures, ensuring safety, hygiene and practitioner certification in all accredited clinics.

A group portrait of healers from a previous generation in Johannesburg honours the lineage of knowledge passed through families. Such ancestral connections sustain traditional healing practices and cultural identity within today’s South African life.

Shelves of dried herbs fill Dr Ahmed Askeria’s family shop in Cairo, open since 1871. “Pharmaceutical medicine and herbal medicine complement each other”, he says – illustrating how Egypt’s herbal trade bridges artisanal knowledge and regulated pharmacy practice.

Medicinal oils await use in the clinic of Ayurvedic healer D.B.S. Kumarasiri in Ritigala. Ayurveda’s reliance on locally grown plants and natural ingredients supports sustainable practices that link human health with environmental stewardship.

Dr Edu, founder of Edu Herbal Clinic in Mankessim, checks a patient’s blood pressure before prescribing herbal treatment. Ghana’s health system encourages collaboration between traditional and biomedical practitioners to ensure safety, early detection and evidence-based use of plant medicines in community care.

At Gullele Botanical Garden in Addis Ababa, Dr Mehari Girmay studies Ethiopia’s native medicinal plants. The garden, created by Addis Ababa University and the city, conserves endemic flora and advances research linking traditional healing knowledge with science.

Khamba Lama D. Natsagdorj performs traditional pulse diagnosis on patient Zoljargal O. at Manba Datsan Hospital in Ulaanbaatar. Integrating Sowa Rigpa with biomedical monitoring, Mongolia’s national system combines spiritual insight and scientific validation to guide holistic treatment for chronic conditions.

At Addis Ababa University’s National Herbarium, Dr Ermias Lulekal and herbalist Melaku Wondafrash examine dried specimens among more than 100 000 archived plants. The collection preserves Ethiopia’s botanical heritage and supports research into traditional and contemporary medicinal uses.

In Köyceğiz, Dr Ferhan tends to her husband Oytun, 85, who manages Parkinson’s disease through regulated cupping therapy and physiotherapy. “Healing touch is needed”, she says. Their story embodies compassion and the blending of traditional and contemporary care within Türkiye’s certified complementary medicine system.

At her practice in Dubai, psychiatrist Dr Leena Amiri integrates complementary therapies at patients’ request. The Emirates Council for Integrative Medicine promotes evidence-based traditional and complementary care within the UAE’s national health services.

Gogo Phakathi prepares herbal offerings for a river-cleansing ceremony in South Africa – a ritual symbolizing purification and harmony with nature. These ceremonies express the healer’s bond with ancestral waters believed to renew spiritual and physical balance.

Midwife Georgina Díaz gathers healing herbs near the Intercultural Hospital of Atalaya in the Peruvian Amazon. She supports Indigenous mothers through childbirth using plant remedies and ancestral knowledge, blending traditional midwifery with hospital-based care for safer, culturally grounded births.

Jesús Gómez Payé holds Bolivia’s Law 459, which formally recognizes Traditional Medicine as part of the national health system. The law symbolizes respect for ancestral knowledge and the country’s commitment to medical pluralism and equal access to care.

Eighty-two-year-old Abelino Paucar Pacheco, a sixth-generation Kallawaya healer in Cochabamba, tends to patients using more than 200 Andean plants. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Kallawaya tradition preserves centuries of botanical and ritual knowledge rooted in the Andean cosmovision of balance and reciprocity.

A healer in Sri Lanka prepares medicine from the bark of the sacred mee tree (Madhuca longifolia). The mixture is applied to inflamed skin – a remedy now supported by laboratory studies confirming the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of this native species.

Medical students learn about native medicinal herbs in Thammasat University Hospital’s teaching garden. “This is our country’s medicine”, explains Dr Tent Sucharitakul. “We must preserve it for future generations.” Education links botanical knowledge with clinical application.

José Valencia, Coordinator of the Totonac School of Traditional Medicine, offers a prayer before harvesting a healing plant – a gesture of gratitude and respect for nature. “Our biggest dream”, he says, “is that traditional doctors receive the same recognition and support as any other health professional.”

At Thammasat University Hospital in Bangkok, patients receive Thai herbal, massage and acupuncture therapies alongside biomedicine. The clinic exemplifies Thailand’s integrative approach – offering safe, evidence-based traditional care within a hospital environment.

Rongoā Māori practitioner Jolie Davis (Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa) works alongside clinicians Roland Schaap and Marty Clamp at Five Rivers Medical Centre in Greytown. The partnership demonstrates how traditional Māori healing and biomedicine unite to support patients’ physical and spiritual well-being within New Zealand’s public health system.

Containers of mulberry, lime berry and purple nutsedge line the shelves of Thammasat University’s teaching garden for use in a scientific study.

Doctors trained in both traditional and biomedicine conduct joint rounds at Thammasat University Hospital. “Patients benefit most when we work together”, says Dr Tent Sucharitakul, reflecting Thailand’s commitment to collaborative, patient-centred care.

At Manawa Ora Mirimiri and Workshops in Wellington, healer Linette Bradbrook embraces a patient after treatment. Touch and compassion are central to Mirimiri therapy – addressing emotional, spiritual and physical balance through connection, trust and community healing.

At the Totonac School of Traditional Medicine in Papantla, an altar in the heart of the healing house represents balance between body, spirit and nature. The school, part of the UNESCO-recognized Center for Indigenous Arts, teaches young Totonac healers through experiential learning rooted in ancestral wisdom.

Dr Shifa Muhammed consults with patient Anjana at her practice in Dubai. The UAE’s new Emirates Council for Integrative Medicine supports evidence-based collaboration between contemporary and traditional therapies for patient well-being.