The contribution of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) to addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
TCIH Coalition position paper on AMR
In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the use of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare (TCIH) in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. As multidrug-resistant bacteria continue to pose a pressing global challenge, TCIH strategies not only diversify therapeutic solutions but also contribute to reinforcing preventive actions and enhancing health maintenance and recovery strategies in response to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). While global policy responses and healthcare initiatives exist, additional efforts are essential to reinforce preventive actions, as well as to enhance health maintenance and treatment strategies. TCIH approaches to prevention and treatment of infectious disease draws upon broad historical use in many TCIH professions, already in high demand by millions of patients across the globe and increasingly integrated in healthcare systems. These broad TCIH practices, which are supported by a growing body of research, require a concerted effort to harness their potential and further include them into healthcare systems worldwide. Through its One Health approach, TCIH offers a promising avenue to help mitigate AMR, emphasizing prevention and the holistic concept of human, animal, and environmental health by focusing on modifiable lifestyle risk factors, and supporting patient awareness, positive lifestyle choices, including nutrition and psycho-social factors such as stress. This paper introduces the role of TCIH in addressing AMR, highlighting its potential to mitigate AMR. Additionally, we propose a set of actionable steps for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers on how to integrate TCIH effectively into healthcare systems, contributing to a holistic approach to combat AMR and promote human health.