At a dialogue session at the (SIH) : Kuwait Hospital – Sharjah discusses traditional medicine between the past and present
Kuwait Hospital – Sharjah, in collaboration with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, organised a dialogue session titled “Traditional Medicine between the Past and Present: Community Experiences and Inspiration for Modern Medicine.” The session brought together a distinguished group of specialists in medicine, pharmacy, heritage, health regulation, and traditional medicine, as well as those interested in the field, to discuss traditional health heritage and therapeutic practices, and explore ways of documenting and examining them in light of scientific research and modern medicine. The session also sought to promote awareness of safe practices while preserving the value of knowledge and experience passed down through generations.
Towards Integrated Healthcare
The session was organised by the Health Education Committee at Kuwait Hospital – Sharjah as part of its efforts to raise health awareness and create opportunities for dialogue among specialists on inherited health practices and their relationship with modern scientific and medical developments.
Afraa Salem Al Dous, Director of Kuwait Hospital – Sharjah, stressed the importance of bringing together traditional, complementary and modern medical approaches within an integrated framework that places patient safety and quality healthcare at the forefront. She noted that the future of healthcare is moving towards greater integration among specialties and regulated therapeutic practices, helping to streamline patients’ healthcare journeys, achieve better treatment outcomes and enhance quality of life.
Heritage Through the Lens of Science
The session addressed several topics related to the history of traditional medicine and inherited therapeutic practices, highlighting the importance of subjecting them to scientific study and research. Discussions also covered complementary medicine, cupping therapy and the use of herbs, emphasising the need to adhere to professional and health regulations and not to endorse any therapeutic practice simply because it is widespread or has been passed down through generations.
Dr Badriya Al Shamsi, Assistant Professor at the University of Sharjah, explored the historical dimension of traditional medicine and highlighted the importance of conducting comparative studies between traditional practices and modern medicine, while documenting inherited knowledge within a scientific and systematic framework.
Dr Haiman Al Nahhal, a specialist in complementary medicine and cupping therapy and Director of the Sharjah Global Centre for Holistic Medicine, discussed the evolution of the concept of complementary medicine and the importance of integrating it with modern medicine on the basis of scientific principles and professional standards. He stressed that cupping and other complementary practices should be performed by qualified practitioners, with due consideration given to the patient’s health condition.
Dr Al Haytham Mohammed, an internal medicine and cardiology physician at Kuwait Hospital – Sharjah, underscored the importance of subjecting traditional health practices to scientific research and laboratory and clinical trials, stressing that no therapeutic practice should be adopted merely because it is widespread or has been passed down through generations. He also cautioned against the uncontrolled use of certain herbs and the potential side effects or interactions they may have with medications.
Regulation and Promoting Safety
Omar Mohammed Al Bastanji, a Health Control Inspector at Sharjah Municipality, highlighted the regulatory role in overseeing establishments that sell herbs and herbal products, as well as requirements related to licensing, storage and product preservation. Pharmacist Noura Abdel Aal addressed aspects related to the regulation of herbal and traditional products, quality and safety requirements, and the importance of raising awareness about their proper use and consulting specialists. Traditional practitioner Latifa Al Suwaidi also shared aspects of her experience in herbal remedies.
The session was moderated by Emirati media professional Hazza Abdullah Al Shihi, who enriched the dialogue and facilitated discussions among the participants on traditional medicine and its relationship with modern medical practices.
Tour of the Accompanying Exhibition
The event was attended by H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, President of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, and H.E. Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, accompanied by Afraa Salem Al Dous, Director of Kuwait Hospital – Sharjah, toured the accompanying exhibition to explore its displays, which featured examples of herbs and traditional and folk medicine tools from the UAE, the Levant, India, Sudan and the Philippines, in addition to a special section dedicated to the personal museum of researcher Hassan Bousaber.
At the conclusion of the event, the speakers and participants were honoured in recognition of the importance of continuing scientific dialogue on health heritage, promoting awareness of safe practices, and benefiting from inherited knowledge and experience within a framework that preserves its value while placing human health and safety first.