Introduction

摘要

Welcome to this special issue of WRSTSD, which is devoted to 'Traditional, alternative and complementary medicine'. Recent advances in integrated and community medicine have motivated a lot of research in the direction of traditional, alternative and complementary therapies. Such combined specialities may have a wide range of applications, including assessments, interventions and surveillance of complex syndromes. They are bringing many new challenges and considerations in combating illnesses, which go well beyond the realm of conventional medicine. Given the overwhelming interest in traditional, alternative and complementary therapies in Western countries and their extensive usage in developing countries, this special issue is intended to foster the dissemination of high quality research in evaluating efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness and accessibility of traditional, alternative and complementary therapies in disease management. Furthermore, it aims to determine how some of these therapies can be integrated into clinical practice to improve patient care.