Ethnopharmacology and complementary and traditional medicine systems

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Organic chemistry and Pharmacology.

Teaching Methods

Theoretic lessons, Debates and Seminars.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the Curricular Unit, the student must know how to frame the clinical translation of research based on Ethnopharmacology and frame Traditional Medicine in the context of a National Health System.

For this, the student must know the Strategic Plan of the World Health Organization (WHO) and, in the case of Europe from European Medicines Agency (EMA). In Portugal, Infarmed provides the necessary regulations associated with it.

Students should also have a basic understanding of the main Traditional Medicines that are being implemented in Europe (what makes them Complementary or Non-Conventional) and how they can be reconciled with Conventional Medicine.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.Ethnopharmacology: Fundamental Challenges in the 20th century XXI.

1.1 Ethnopharmacology: Brief History of a Multidisciplinary Research Field

1.2 Research on Medicinal Plants in a translational context.

1.3 The Anthropology of Ethnopharmacology

1.4 Biodiversity, Conservation and Ethnopharmacology

1.5 Ecopharmacognosy

1.6 New Medicines Based on Traditional Knowledge: Indigenous and Intellectual Property Rights from an Ethnopharmacological Perspective

2. Traditional Medicine and Unconventional Therapies

2.1 World Health Organization-  Definitions and Strategic Plan

2.2. European legislation

2.3. Portuguese legislation

2.4. Framework in National Health Systems.

3. Basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani and Ayurveda.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Participation in debates: 30.0%
Mini Tests: 30.0%
Report of a seminar or field trip: 40.0%

Bibliography

Michael Heinrich(Editor), Anna K, Ethnopharmacology, ULLA Postgraduate Pharmacy Series;Jäger(Editor)

2015.  Wiley-Blackwell

Consul R, Lucas F., Campos  M G. (2021) Ayahuasca: Inherent Dangers in Its Consumption. In “Wild Plants: The Treasure of Natural Healers" (Eds: Mahendra Rai and Shandesh Bhattarai), Ed.by CRC press USA. Chapter  16, 401-424.  Ed. Taylor & Francis Group https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003020134; eBook ISBN 9781003020134

Vieira F. E., Lucas F., Campos M. G., Germano C. 2019 Mururé (Brosimum acutifolium Huber) in the treatment of syphilis in the colonial Amazon: From historical data to the actual contribution in treatment. Acta Botanica Brasilica.  33(2): 183-190. DOI: 10.1590/0102-33062019abb0030 

World Health Organization - International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH)

      https://www.who.int/initiatives/international-regulatory-cooperation-for-herbal-medicines

European Medicines Agency's (EMA) | Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)