Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals

Traditional and complementary medicine associate professionals prevent, care for and treat human physical and mental illnesses, disorders and injuries using herbal and other therapies based on theories, beliefs and experiences originating in specific cultures .

Tasks and duties

• Examining patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status and the nature of physical or mental disorders or illnesses or other ailments
• Recommending and providing care and treatment for illnesses and other ailments using traditional techniques and medicaments, such as physical manipulation and exercises, blood-letting using natural vessels, and preparations using herbs, plants, insects and animal extracts
• Administering treatments such as acupuncture, ayurvedic, homeopathic and herbal medicine according to therapeutic care plans and procedures usually developed by a traditional medicine or other health professional
• Providing care and treatment for physical injuries such as setting and healing fractured and dislocated bones using traditional methods of physical manipulation and herbal therapies
• Advising individuals, families and the community on health, nutrition, hygiene, lifestyle and other issues to maintain or improve health and well-being
• Referring patients to, and exchanging information with, other health care providers to ensure comprehensive and continuing care