Use of Natural Medicine Increases in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

According to studies conducted in the current year, the use of Natural and Traditional Medicine (NTM for its Spanish acronym) has increased in the Cuban central province of Sancti Spiritus. Specialists of the branch highlight the progress of some indicators that exceed the standards set at a national scale.

As for 2012, the 33% of patients treated in primary health care has been remedied with some varieties of NTMs, as was also, the 40% of those admitted to hospitals in the territory.

Dr. Nircia Nuñez Luna, assesor of the Provincial Department of Health, told the Cuban News Agency that the program’s boost is due to a greater awareness of the benefits of using the procedures and techniques of MNTs, which has allowed gaining followers gradually.

It is a less invasive and more innocuous medicine than the conventional Western, said Nuñez Luna, who also refered to the increased number of patients demaning their use.

According to statistical records, as for 2012, the 33% of patients treated in primary health care has been remedied with some varieties of NTMs, as was also, the 40% of those admitted to hospitals in the territory.

Dr. Armando Vargas, head of the Medicine and Technology Department in Sancti Spiritus Health Office, said that these indicators exceed those set in Cuba while ensuring that the rehabilitation services are the most important users of the aboved mentioned program.

Even the surgical activity has used  the so-called eastern medicine. For instance, more than the 13 % of the elective major surgeries performed in these three and half months of 2012 applied acupuncture analgesia.

Sancti Spiritus counts on a development center of MNTs as well as on 10 laboratories producing phyto drugs and api.

Alina Luna, manager of the Green Medicine pharmacy in the city of Sancti Spiritus, said that there is great demand for creams, shampoos, cough and cold syrups, tinctures and fluid extracts, including the aforementioned products from laboratories.

Taken from AIN/Translated by Escambray