• Sunday 01st February 2026
• 16

Complementary Medicine Expertise Course

What is Complementary Medicine

According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), complementary medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, which are used for the purpose of maintaining health, preventing, diagnosing, improving and treating physical and mental illnesses.

For thousands of years, humans have used various parts of plants or animal derivatives to treat their health problems. In Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, about 70-90% of the people still use various types of traditional advice as their primary treatment. In some regions, complementary medicine has a comprehensive support with research studies and theoretical and practical scientific documents. While in other regions, this knowledge has gradually faded from generation to generation and has been reduced to oral traditions. Since one third of people in different societies do not have access to modern medicines, the provision of safe and reliable traditional and alternative healing methods can provide a way to increase access to health and wellness services. Therefore, in some parts of the world, different ethnic groups are returning to their traditional and indigenous principles and teachings.

Currently, more than 100 countries have mechanisms for herbal medicines. However, the methods of complementary medicine in different countries and regions of the world differ from each other due to the cultural, historical, character and individual philosophies of the societies. Among the common types of complementary medicine in the world, we can mention Chinese, Indian, African and Iranian complementary medicine. In many countries, complementary medicine is known as alternative or complementary medicine. This is while in some countries, complementary or alternative medicine has a somewhat different definition and refers to a wide range of care and health measures that may not necessarily be part of the tradition of that society and have not yet been integrated into its health care system.

Iranian complementary medicine

Iranian complementary medicine includes a set of all the knowledge and instructions that have been used in Iran since ancient times (from about 8000 BC) to diagnose, prevent and treat disease. Iranian complementary medicine consists of two main branches: theory (which discusses the state and changes of the human body and the causes and symptoms of health and disease) and practice (the knowledge of how to maintain health and how to restore it after the onset of diseases).

In Iranian complementary medicine, the physiological functions of the body are measured based on seven factors, which are: elements (elements), temperament, humors, organs (members), spirits, powers and functions (actions).

In Iranian complementary medicine, the main focus is on preventing disease rather than treating it. Accordingly, the six important and essential factors for maintaining health in Iranian complementary medicine are: air, drink and food, sleep and wakefulness, evacuation and maintenance, physical activity and rest, mental activity and spiritual peace.

In Iranian complementary medicine, the cause of most diseases is due to the imbalance of humors and temperament. Therefore, treatment or prescription of medicine is mainly based on the aim of restoring this balance through the use of its opposing temperaments. For example, if the disease is caused by a cold temperament, its treatment is carried out by prescribing substances with a warm temperament.

Complementary medicine in everyday life The development of modern medicines requires years of research work and advanced production lines, which generally lead to a high cost of the finished pharmaceutical product. Meanwhile, the improper use of modern medicines, such as antibiotics, in addition to creating drug resistance and the need to develop newer medicines, are usually accompanied by unwanted compounds and, as a result, side effects due to chemical manufacturing processes (which are not always 100% efficient and pure). This is while complementary medicine always uses natural and not synthetic substances, so they are more economical and safer in terms of cost and side effects.

One of the most common aspects of complementary medicine is the use of plants with medicinal properties. The use of these plants in everyday life is so effective that they can even be used to treat incurable diseases. Almost a quarter of modern medicines today are of natural origin, which were previously used in complementary medicine. Also, of the approximately 121 different drugs used in the treatment of cancer, 90 are derived from plants. In this case, we can mention the extract of artemisinin (artemisia or wormwood), which is used to treat malaria as well as cancer. The therapeutic importance of this plant was such that its discoverer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015. This award was shared with the discoverer of avermectin, which also happens to be of natural origin (extracted from a type of microorganism found in soil).

According to a report by the World Health Organization, the use of medicinal plants has played a very significant role in the treatment and control of SARS in China in recent years. A market value of $60 billion for medicinal plants was reported in 2002-2005, and there is great hope for the use of these plants in improving the health of communities.

Importance of Complementary Medicine

For medical science and the country, the lack of an academic field of complementary medicine was considered a big gap. By introducing this field to the country's universities, it was possible to break our dependence on foreign chemical drugs. When chemical drugs were produced abroad, it caused foreign exchange to leave the country, which was a big blow to the country's economy, but if herbal medicines were planted, various diseases could be treated. In addition, in some cases, there is a possibility of irreversible side effects of chemical drugs for the patient's body, but the side effects of herbal medicines are much less due to their natural nature. By training complementary medicine specialists in universities and expanding the academic field of complementary medicine, it can be introduced all over the world. Medical tourism will increase as a result of the introduction of this field, and many people from all over the world travel to Iran to treat their diseases. Therefore, in addition to not losing foreign exchange, income generation is another advantage of this academic field. When tourists travel to Iran, job creation adds to the benefits of this field.

Conditions for entering the field of complementary medicine abroad

Some people who like the field of complementary medicine plan to study at universities abroad that have a long history and experience in medicinal plants and complementary medicine, such as universities in China and India. These universities are considered a suitable option for applicants, which is why they apply for a study visa. India's history in the field of medicinal plants is very strong, which is why it is better for these people to continue their studies in the field of complementary medicine.

Also, China's history of complementary medicine in the field of complementary medicine is very long, but the limitations of those interested in this field include learning the Chinese language and the distance of the route. Students of complementary medicine abroad face other problems, including problems related to obtaining foreign currency and having their documents accepted by the Iranian Ministry of Health. Keep in mind that in these countries, the duration of study and entry into the field of complementary medicine education takes between 5 and 7 years.

Career Prospects for Complementary Medicine

Given that the field of complementary medicine is very popular among students, the career prospects of this field are very good. The places where graduates of complementary medicine are licensed to work are complementary medicine centers and clinics, or if they continue their education, they can become university professors. These people can also establish a company producing herbal medicines in order to earn a very high income.