ABSTRACT
To evaluate the contemporary role of traditional medicine in maintaining health, to develop a scientific approach to policy–making in traditional medicine, and, ultimately, to assess how traditional medicine can be harmonized with modern medicine. There is dire need for identifying research requirements in traditional medicine on the past research, barriers to the acceptance of traditional medicine, research methodology and evidence–based medicine. In the course of these discussions, we concluded that there were challenges to the harmonization of traditional and modern medicine. Better access to information, facilitating appropriate clinical trials, improving rigour in clinical trials, improving education and collaboration of practitioners and researchers, and respecting traditional practices in research were all identified as important steps towards achieving harmonization. We should be believed that evidence–based research could be an essential step towards the harmonization. Findings of well–designed and well–performed research should be disseminated as widely as possible. This should include the preparation and dissemination in English and native languages of rigorous systematic reviews based on the research literature from various countries. Research that establishes the value of traditional medicine in promoting health and wellness beyond treating diseases should be encouraged. Clinical trials of widely used and established traditional remedies should be encouraged and undertaken prior to obtaining the results of extensive ‘pre–clinical’ basic research. This is done by support training in research methodologies by encourage in conducting of high quality research.