Globalization and the Reconfiguration of Traditional Medicine Across Cultures and Healing Systems
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Abstract
This study examines the impact of globalization on traditional medicine, exploring how international forces influence the structure, legitimacy, and continuity of ancestral healing systems. Through an interdisciplinary literature review, the paper analyzes how commercialization, regulation, migration, and digital communication have transformed traditional practices across diverse cultural settings. The findings reveal that while globalization has expanded the visibility of traditional medicine, it has simultaneously introduced pressures that challenge its philosophical coherence and community relevance. Practitioners are increasingly expected to conform to biomedical standards, risking the loss of spiritual and relational dimensions central to their traditions. The transmission of knowledge is threatened by linguistic decline, generational discontinuity, and urban migration. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist for renewed engagement, provided that traditional medicine is valued not as a commodity but as a living system of meaning. The study concludes that preserving the diversity and depth of traditional healing requires inclusive research, respectful collaboration, and institutional support that extends beyond regulatory compliance.
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