Many people rely on traditional and alternative medicine – Ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy, herbal remedies, acupuncture, and various local systems. These practices are deeply rooted in culture but must still operate within legal boundaries.
Regulation usually focuses on:
- Who can call themselves a qualified practitioner,
- What training and registration they must have,
- What kind of treatments they may offer,
- Advertising claims – especially for “miracle cures” or serious diseases.
Problems arise when unqualified people set up clinics, or when practitioners overstep their training, such as performing surgeries or prescribing strong modern drugs without proper qualification. Misleading ads promising guaranteed cure for chronic or life-threatening conditions are another big concern.
Authorities can take action through medical councils, consumer laws, drug regulators, and even criminal provisions. At the same time, law also tries to respect genuine traditional knowledge and prevent its misuse by fake healers.
For patients, the safest path is to check registration, ask questions, and inform all their doctors about all treatments they are taking. Mixing different systems without supervision can be risky.
