6 Thematic Axes of the 3rd World Congress on TCIM to Inspire Your Research

In a world seeking increasingly comprehensive answers to health challenges, the convergence of ancestral wisdom and modern science has never been more relevant. This global movement, which values complementary and traditional practices, will find its epicenter in Brazil during the 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (3rd WCTCIM), in Rio de Janeiro, from October 15 to 18, at the Riocentro Convention Center.

Engaged in the Global TCIM Debate

Aligned with the launch of the new World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Strategy for 2025-2034, the event represents more than a conference: it is a call to integrate TCIM into national health systems, as highlighted in the Gujarat Declaration. For researchers, professionals, and policymakers, understanding the thematic axes of the 3rd WCTCIM is a fundamental step to position their work at the center of this transformative dialogue and actively contribute to the future of public health.

More than a presentation platform, the congress serves as a forum for qualification and collaboration. The program, with its plenary sessions, workshops, and panels, was designed to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue and the exchange of experiences among professionals from over 50 countries. This immersion in an environment of intellectual and cultural diversity offers a unique opportunity to refine research, validate approaches, and build international networks that can boost careers and future projects.

Navigating the 6 Thematic Axes

The scientific committee has organized the congress into six pillars that reflect the current challenges and opportunities in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM).

Axis 1: Diversity in the Spectrum of TCIM Modalities Globally

This axis explores the richness and variety of health practices, ranging from codified traditional medical systems, such as Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, to indigenous knowledge and emerging complementary practices. If your research documents, compares, or analyzes the application of specific modalities, this is your starting point. The focus here is on knowledge at its source.

Submitted works can deepen the ethnobotanical understanding of medicinal plants, the philosophical basis of complex medical systems, or the cultural adaptation of ancestral practices in the modern world. Additionally, the axis welcomes research investigating the safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of these modalities, contributing to their scientific validation and recognition.

Axis 2: Integration of TCIM into Health Systems

Here, the discussion moves from theory to systemic practice. This axis addresses how TCIM is being incorporated into primary care, hospital settings, and public health policies. Works on integrated care models, implementation challenges, and interprofessional collaboration will find their ideal space for debate in this axis.

Contributions can include analyses of public policies, case studies on the implementation of TCIM services in hospitals or primary care units, and research on the perceptions of patients and conventional professionals. The goal is to generate evidence that guides managers and policymakers in building truly integrative health systems.

Axis 3: Evidence-Informed Contributions of TCIM to Global Public Health

Evidence-based research is the cornerstone of this axis. It focuses on studies demonstrating the impact of TCIM on challenging clinical conditions such as mental health, oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic pain. If your work involves clinical trials, systematic reviews, or efficacy studies, it directly contributes to this vital area.

This axis values methodological robustness and scientific rigor. Submissions should ideally follow reporting guidelines such as those from the EQUATOR network. The purpose is to build a solid evidence base that justifies the inclusion of TCIM in clinical protocols and strengthens informed decision-making by professionals and patients.

Axis 4: TCIM Throughout the Life Cycle

Healthcare is not static, and this axis addresses the application of TCIM across different life stages. From pediatrics and women’s health to healthy aging and palliative care, the focus is on holistic and continuous care. Case reports and longitudinal studies are especially relevant here.

Research can explore, for example, the management of chronic childhood conditions with integrative approaches, support for pregnant women with complementary practices, or improving the quality of life in the elderly and end-of-life patients. The axis seeks to highlight how TCIM can offer safe and effective solutions for health needs at every stage of human existence.

Axis 5: Education, Training, and Capacity Building in TCIM

The sustainability of TCIM depends on the training of qualified professionals. This axis is dedicated to innovations in education, training models, competency development, and professional regulation processes. If your contribution is in the pedagogical or capacity-building field, this is your forum.

Proposals describing the development of curricula, interprofessional education strategies, certification and accreditation programs, or research on the knowledge and attitudes of health students towards TCIM are welcome. The debate aims to standardize and elevate the quality of training on a global scale.

Axis 6: Planetary Health, One Health, and Healthy Societies

Expanding the perspective, this final axis connects human health to environmental and animal health. The discussion addresses how traditional and integrative practices can promote sustainability, social well-being, and ecological resilience. Research with a “One Health” approach or that investigates the socio-environmental determinants of health fits perfectly here.

Works can investigate the role of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation, the impact of medicinal plants on soil health, or the relationship between community well-being and integrative practices. The goal is to demonstrate how TCIM is an essential resource for addressing the complex challenges of planetary health.

Integrated with Global TCIM Movements

Choosing one of the thematic axes of the 3rd WCTCIM is the first step to sharing your contribution with the world. A clear and strategic alignment not only facilitates evaluation by the scientific committee but also ensures your work is discussed by the right people. The opportunity to publish approved abstracts in Frontiers in Public Health, a high-impact scientific journal, adds invaluable worth to your participation.

The final deadline for submitting abstracts, activity proposals, and special interest groups is July 15, 2025. Prepare your work and contribute to the global advancement of integrative health.

For more details and to submit your proposal, visit the official submission page:

General information about the congress is available at: