Traditional Medicine in Southeast Asia with Special Reference to Malaysia and Indonesia

Abstract

Traditional medicine is a science or practice in medicine and healthcare which has been going on for generations and widely considered as an alternative medicine to Western medicine among Southeast Asia communities at large. In fact, before the 'intervention' of Western powers, such as the British, French, the Dutch, Spain and Portuguese in this region, traditional medicine was practised by the indigenous people as the main means of healing or curing all sorts of diseases. It is imparted through verbal and written forms as well as through the practices and beliefs of a community. After individual countries became independent nations, traditional medicine continued to dominate their daily practice of healing illness or diseases, especially among those in rural communities (kampong) and the indigenous (or Aboriginal tribes) people. In fact, the beliefs in traditional medicine for curing or healing diseases due to spiritual causes are still widely practised even among those with a Western educational background. In