This text provides a comprehensive picture of the vivid kaleidoscope of traditional medicine in Asia presented by 34 eminent authors from 15 countries, belonging to the different systems like Ayurveda and Chinese traditional medicine. Important emerging areas such as harmonization of the traditional systems with modern medicine and the growing role of these systems in the health care structure countries are also dealt with tellingly. Legislation and regulation of these systems and practitioners, an area of growing concern, the need for good preclinical toxicology studies and scientific clinical evaluation of the products and medicinal plants used for therapy are dealt with. The vital issue of protection of traditional systems of medicine and patenting of medicinal plants has been discussed in detail. The book is replete with suggestions and ideas aimed at making traditional systems more effectively and more widely used for healthcare. The book also covers the prevailing situation regarding the use and other aspects of traditional medicine in the ten Member countries of the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization.