The World Health Organization says people need more
information about how to (36) use traditional medicines. The
W.H.O. now has guidelines to suggest ways for public health officials to develop
that information. The health agency is part of the United Nations.
Up to eighty percent of people in (37) countries
depend on traditional medicines. More and more people in (38)
countries use them too. But the W.H.O. notes that just because
products are natural does not always mean they are safe. It says reports of bad
reactions have increased (39) in the last few
years. In China, for example, about ten-thousand harmful drug
reactions were reported in 2002. There were just four-thousand (40)
reported between 1990 and 1999. Traditional medicines are made from
plants, animal products and (41) . The health agency says
they remain largely outside government control. In most
countries, traditional medicines can be (42) without a
doctor’s order. Sometimes they are (43) by friends or by the
patients themselves. (44) . Lee Jong-wook is
Director-General of the organization. Doctor Lee says (45)
.But he says governments should have the tools to make sure people get the best
information. Under the new guidelines, traditional healers would
have to be skilled. And they would have to be listed with the government. Also,
people would have to be informed about how and where to report problems. Doctor
Lee says (46) .