{"id":8435,"date":"2025-10-20T13:49:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T16:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/?p=8435"},"modified":"2025-10-20T14:27:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T17:27:27","slug":"despite-high-funding-gaps-in-research-scientists-and-indigenous-leaders-unite-for-the-first-time-to-advance-traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/despite-high-funding-gaps-in-research-scientists-and-indigenous-leaders-unite-for-the-first-time-to-advance-traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite high funding gaps in research, scientists and Indigenous leaders unite for the first time to advance Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n.post-content {\n  font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif !important;\n  color: #414d58 !important;\n  font-size: 15px !important;\n  line-height: 24px !important;\n  font-weight: 400 !important;\n  margin: 0 auto !important;\n  padding: 20px !important;\n  max-width: 800px !important;\n}\n.post-content a {\n  color: #1d89e4 !important;\n  text-decoration: none !important;\n}\n.post-content p,\n.post-content ul {\n  margin-bottom: 1em !important;\n}\n\/* SUBT\u00cdTULO *\/\n.post-content .subtitle {\n  font-size: 18px !important;\n  font-weight: 500 !important;\n  line-height: 1.6 !important;\n  margin: 0 0 0.5em !important;\n}\n\/* HEADINGS *\/\n.post-content .heading-2-gray {\n  font-size: 32px !important;\n  line-height: 44px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: #414d58 !important;\n  margin: 1.2em 0 0.6em !important;\n}\n.post-content .heading-3-blue {\n  font-size: 24px !important;\n  line-height: 36px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: #1d89e5 !important;\n  margin: 1em 0 0.5em !important;\n}\n.post-content .heading-3-gray {\n  font-size: 24px !important;\n  line-height: 36px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: #414d58 !important;\n  margin: 1em 0 0.5em !important;\n}\n\/* BOT\u00d5ES *\/\n.post-content .btn-blue {\n  background-color: #1d89e4 !important;\n  color: #fff !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  font-size: 14px !important;\n  padding: 10px 20px !important;\n  border: none !important;\n  border-radius: 4px !important;\n  display: inline-block !important;\n  margin-top: 0.5em !important;\n  margin-bottom: 1em !important;\n  text-decoration: none !important;\n}\n\/* TAGS *\/\n.post-content .tag-green {\n  background-color: #94cf95 !important;\n  color: #fff !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  font-size: 9px !important;\n  padding: 4px 8px !important;\n  border-radius: 2px !important;\n  text-transform: uppercase !important;\n  display: inline-block !important;\n  line-height: 1 !important;\n  white-space: nowrap !important;\n  margin-bottom: 1em !important;\n}\n.post-content .separator-line {\n  margin: 40px 0 30px !important;\n  border: none !important;\n  border-top: 1px solid #ccc !important;\n}\n@media (max-width: 600px) {\n  .post-content {\n    padding: 15px !important;\n    font-size: 14px !important;\n    line-height: 20px !important;\n  }\n  .post-content .heading-2-gray {\n    font-size: 24px !important;\n    line-height: 32px !important;\n  }\n  .post-content .heading-3-blue,\n  .post-content .heading-3-gray {\n    font-size: 20px !important;\n    line-height: 28px !important;\n  }\n  .post-content p,\n  .post-content ul {\n    font-size: 14px !important;\n  }\n  .post-content .btn-blue {\n    width: 100% !important;\n    text-align: center !important;\n  }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-2-gray\">Despite high funding gaps in research, scientists and Indigenous leaders unite for the first time to advance Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine<\/h2>\n\n<p><strong>Rio de Janeiro, Brazil &#8211; October 19, 2025<\/strong> &#8211; In a historic first, scientists, policymakers, and indigenous leaders from more than <strong>70 countries<\/strong> came together in Rio de Janeiro at the <strong>3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM)<\/strong> to share evidence on how integrating <strong>Traditional &#038; Complementary Medicine<\/strong> with <strong>conventional medicine<\/strong> can improve patient outcomes and strengthen public health.<\/p>\n\n<p><em>\u201cFor the first time, we brought together traditional knowledge and science from around the world to build a more balanced, human, and climate-friendly future, but the global funding gap is huge,\u201d<\/em> said <strong>Prof. Dr. Ricardo Ghelman, Chair of the Congress.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Despite growing global use &#8211; <strong>one in three people worldwide<\/strong> rely on some form of traditional medicine &#8211; <strong>less than 1% of health research budgets<\/strong> are devoted to TCIM[1]. In 2021\/2022, that share was <strong>0% in Europe, under 0.2% in Australia and the USA, and 6.3% in South Korea.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>\u201cTraditional medicine &#8211; <strong>the people\u2019s medicine<\/strong> &#8211; is used by billions. It\u2019s time for a bold leap in research to match reality\u201d<\/em>, said <strong>Dr. Tabatha Parker, TCIH Coalition board member.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>In the run up to COP30, new data shows how human and planetary health are linked. With <strong>50% of the global population living with a chronic disease, our food and dietary impact accounts for 22% of non communicable diseases (NCD\u2019s).<\/strong> For <strong>Prof. Dr. Brenda Leung, of the Public Health at the University of Lethbridge, Canada:<\/strong> \u201cGrowing evidence shows how <strong>traditional medicine, indigenous knowledge, and biodiversity<\/strong> are inseparable &#8211; biodiversity sustains <strong>medicinal wisdom<\/strong>, while indigenous cultures safeguard and nurture it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p><em>\u201cWe are living the consequences of climate change. <strong>Nature is not for sale, it has the food and medicine we need.<\/strong> It is not possible to build a public health system without listening to the people\u201d<\/em>, said <strong>Prof. Putira Sacuena, Director of the Department of Indigenous Primary Health Care\/SESAI at Brazilian Ministry of Health.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Although a few countries like Brazil, China, India, Iran, South Korea and Switzerland regulate and integrate TCIM into their public health system, most don\u2019t.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>\u201cHow can we regulate traditional medicine, if we don\u2019t integrate it? There is a real imbalance, we also need to train both the traditional healers and the medical doctors to work together\u201d<\/em>, said <strong>Prof. Motlalepula Matsabisa, African Traditional Medicine expert and pharmacology researcher at the University of the Free State (UFS) South Africa.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Research from <strong>six regions<\/strong> demonstrated TCIM\u2019s benefits when safely regulated and integrated into public health systems, including <strong>reduced symptoms, fewer costly referrals, lower antibiotic use, and improved mental health and chronic disease management.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>\u201cWestern health systems must urgently learn from diverse traditional knowledge to move from repair to prevention &#8211; harnessing TCIM\u2019s power to sustain health and prevent disease\u201d<\/em>, said <strong>Prof. Dr. Georg Seifert, President of the European Society for Integrative Medicine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Dr. Hiba Boujnah, Head of International Cooperation and Partnerships at the Charit\u00e9 Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM)<\/strong> underlined: <em>\u201cAs we integrate traditional medicine into healthcare systems, we must do so with humility and care. Indigenous practices should not be commercialized or taken out of context, and integration must be guided by respect, reciprocity, and fair benefit-sharing\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"heading-3-blue\">Evidence includes:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n    <li>Implementation and initial evidence of efficacy and safety of <strong>traditional and complementary medical practices in hospitals<\/strong> in countries worldwide.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Integrative Pediatric evidence map<\/strong> presented <strong>160 systematic reviews from 74 countries<\/strong> showing <strong>73% of positive effects for mental health, pain reduction, oncology and respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders.<\/strong><\/li>\n    <li><strong>Ayurvedic Medicine used for pediatric and elderly care<\/strong> in India.<\/li>\n    <li>Data from <strong>312 systematic reviews<\/strong> show the crucial role of <strong>green spaces and nature-based interventions<\/strong> in improving <strong>physical and mental health<\/strong>, with new evidence maps indicating <strong>94% positive effects on anxiety, depression, obesity, and diabetes &#8211; especially in urban areas.<\/strong><\/li>\n    <li>Within the <strong>Chinese public health system<\/strong>, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine account for <strong>30% of services, 30,000 prescriptions and 19 tons of herbal medicine per day.<\/strong><\/li>\n    <li><strong>Since COVID-19, growing interest and research in herbal and traditional treatments<\/strong> in Africa, Latin America and Europe, but severe lack of funding and policies.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Cancer support and care<\/strong> to improve quality of life and control cancer related symptoms based on <strong>Society of Integrative Oncology (ASCO SIO) Guidelines.<\/strong><\/li>\n    <li><strong>Ayahuasca and psychedelic-assisted therapy<\/strong> to treat severe depression in Latin America.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Artificial Intelligence applications on TCIM<\/strong> to identify medicinal plants and strengthen global research<\/li>\n    <li>An <strong>award-winning study on Integrative and Complementary Practices with ArtScience for children in vulnerable communities<\/strong> showed how creativity and empathy can transform health and education.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Mistletoe therapy to reduce cancer<\/strong> treatment side-effects in Europe, South America and India; <strong>mind-body medicine like mindfulness-based stress reduction and yoga to treat chronic pain;<\/strong> and use of <strong>cupping and acupuncture to support people experiencing homelessness and addiction in Brazil.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>\u201cThis congress showcased how TCIM is expanding the methodological and thematic frontiers of the health sciences &#8211; uniting ancestral wisdom and innovation &#8211; via creative, human-centered, and sustainable approaches to global health.\u201dsaid <strong>Dr. Caio F\u00e1bio Schlechta Portella, Chair of the Scientific Committee of the 3rd WCTCIM 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cRigorous TCIM research is laying the foundation for integration into healthcare systems worldwide\u2014the field is finding its own voice in science,\u201d says <strong>Prof. Holger Cramer, University of T\u00fcbingen and Past President of ISCMR.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>The congress brought together <strong>1,300 participants from 70 countries<\/strong>, with <strong>664 peer-reviewed abstracts from 47 countries &#8211; including 61% research, 31% experience reports, and 8% clinical case reports<\/strong> &#8211; under the theme: \u201c<strong>Strengthening Global Public Health through TCIM: Knowledge Diversity, Well-Being Societies, and Planetary Health.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cWe now have a clear opportunity to integrate real world data from TCIM clinical practice\u201d, says <strong>Prof. Jeffery Dusek, of the BraveNet Practice Based Research Network of TCIM- which includes 34 members from the US, South Korea, Australia, Israel, Canada and Brazil.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cBringing together practitioners, researchers, and students worldwide creates a powerful network to advance evidence-based, integrative, and self-care approaches for a healthier, more holistic future\u201d, said <strong>Prof. Mariana Cabral Schveitzer, of the Universidade Federal de S\u00e3o Paulo, and former president of CABSIN.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>A key statement from the <strong>Brazilian Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha<\/strong> on mission in China and India, was read at the closing ceremony: \u201cWe renew, as <strong>BRICS leaders<\/strong>, our mutual agreement to strengthen traditional medicine in each health system and to expand exchanges. I visited traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in China and Ayurvedic medicine facilities in India to value and engage with these realities. Count on the Brazilian Ministry of Health to support Traditional Medicine in Brazil and in International Forums.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Recommendations from Rio will feed into the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, Delhi, India, December 17\u201319, 2025<\/strong>, building on the <strong>WHO Global Strategy on TCIM (2025\u20132034) approved in May.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Organized by the <strong>Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN), International Society of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Research (ISCMR), and European Society for Integrative Medicine (ESIM)<\/strong>; the event also highlighted <strong>Brazil\u2019s integrative health leadership.<\/strong> Under its <strong>National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC)<\/strong>&#8211; marking 20 years in 2026 &#8211; Brazil\u2019s public health system (SUS) provided over <strong>nine million TCIM consultations in 2024, a 70% increase in two years.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Press contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li>Jaciara Rodrigues (+55 21) 98121-2474 (Port\/Eng\/Sp)<\/li>\n    <li>Samantha Bolton +41 79 239 23 66 (Eng\/Fr\/lt\/Sp)<\/li>\n    <li><a href=\"mailto:press@wctcim.cabsin.org.br\">press@wctcim.cabsin.org.br<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p><strong>More info:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/\">https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/<\/a><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>[1] Global health funding for research in TCIM (e.g. in US, equivalent to $159.3 million, of around $96.48 billion of the United States&#8217; National Institute of Health research budget) https:\/\/www.intergmed.org\/journal\/view.php?number=47<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite high funding gaps in research, scientists and Indigenous leaders unite for the first time to advance Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Rio de Janeiro, Brazil &#8211; October 19, 2025 &#8211; In a historic first, scientists, policymakers, and indigenous leaders&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":7602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":{"notion_id":""},"rank_math_fields":{"rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_seo_score":"14","rank_math_canonical_url":"","rank_math_internal_links_processed":"1"},"global_fields":{"notion_id":""},"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/12.png","taxonomies":[{"term_id":1,"name":"Uncategorized","slug":"uncategorized","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw"}],"action":"updated","source":"manual_ui","_edit_lock":"1760983346:2","rank_math_seo_score":"14","rank_math_internal_links_processed":"1","_edit_last":"2","post-header-status":"default","post-header-style":"default","sidebar_position":"default","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","_thumbnail_id":"7602","_wp_old_slug":"","rank_math_analytic_object_id":"1358","_cmplz_scanned_post":"1","_cmplz_remote_scanned_post":"","_yoast_indexnow_last_ping":"","rank_math_news_sitemap_robots":"","rank_math_robots":"","_yoast_post_redirect_info":"","rank_math_primary_category":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","rank_math_focus_keyword":"","_dp_original":"","_wp_page_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","_wp_old_date":"","footnotes":"","rank_math_schema_BlogPosting":"","rank_math_schema_VideoObject":"","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8435"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8443,"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8435\/revisions\/8443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wctcim.cabsin.org.br\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}