Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating Ethiopian Traditional Medicine System Into Modern Medicine: A Narrative Review.

backgroundAbout 80% of the population uses Ethiopian traditional herbal medicine (ETHM) for a variety of medical needs, making it a pillar of the country's healthcare system. The advantages and challenges of integrating ETHM with contemporary medicine in Ethiopia are summed up in this narrative review.

methodsTo explore the integration of ETHM with contemporary medical systems, we carried out a literature search in March 2025 while maintaining methodological transparency. Using a mix of keywords associated with ETHM, integration, obstacles, and pharmacological validation, we searched a number of databases, including PubMed, Scopus, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar. A total of 110 records were found in the first search. After duplicates were eliminated, and titles and abstracts were evaluated for relevancy, 65 items remained. After a thorough analysis of the remaining literature, we included 38 articles published between January 2015 and March 2025 that satisfied our predetermined inclusion criteria, which were centered on ETHM practices, integration with contemporary medicine, or Ethiopian regulatory frameworks. Studies and publications written in languages other than English that did not particularly discuss ETHM or its integration were excluded. We critically assessed each included study's relevance and trustworthiness based on elements like journal impact factor, authorship, and methodological rigor, even though our narrative evaluation did not employ a rigorous systematic quality assessment.

resultsA strong basis for integration is identified by our synthesis, which includes a large pharmacopeia of medicinal plants with encouraging preclinical evidence for conditions including diabetes and wound healing. However, progress is hampered by systemic problems. These include significant problems with product quality and adulteration, a dearth of clinical validation and safety data, a lack of a thorough regulatory framework, and a high degree of mistrust between traditional practitioners and contemporary scientific groups.

conclusionIn order to document and preserve indigenous knowledge, we advise the Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) to immediately establish a dedicated directorate for traditional herbal medicine and to launch a national digital repository called "EthHerb."