This unique book provides a comprehensive picture of the vivid kaleidoscope of traditional medicine in Asia presented by 34 eminent authors from 15 countries belonging to the different systems like Ayurveda and Chinese Traditional Medicine. Important emerging areas such as harmonization of the traditional systems with modern medicine and the growing role of these systems in the health care structure of countries are also dealt with. Legislation and regulation of these systems and practitioners, an area of growing concern, the need for good preclinical toxicology studies and scientific clinical evaluation of the products and medicinal plants used for therapy are exhaustingly dealt with. The vital issue of protection of traditional systems of medicine and patenting of medicinal plants is discussed in detail. The book is replete with suggestions, and ideas aimed at making traditional systems more effectively, and more widely used for health care. The book also covers the prevailing situation regarding the use and other aspects of traditional medicine in the 10 Member countries of the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization.