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I was sent a chain message over WhatsApp talking about how WHO supports alternative medicine and how it is a shame that it is being censored by some political parties in Spain. I would like to know what is the actual position of WHO regarding alternative medicines (homeopathy, acupuncture, biodecoding, etc.).

They quote this article to defend their position, saying that "WHO encourages governments to incorporate alternative medicines in their sanitary systems".

Shadur
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Gotey
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    That article talks about *traditional* medicine, not *alternative* medicine. Said medicinal practices *do* still need to prove that they actually *work*. – Shadur Mar 25 '18 at 16:52
  • Related: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/34838/does-the-who-recognise-acupuncture-as-effective – Andrew Grimm Mar 28 '18 at 13:05

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The WHO's position on alternative medicine seems to be the same as their position on conventional medicine: if it is proven to work and proven to be safe, go ahead and use it.

The document you linked was published in 2013 and outlines the WHO's general strategy and position regarding alternative medicines, though they tend to refer to them as traditional and complementary medicines. Looking at the opening paragraphs on the linked document, you can see their position:

Across the world, traditional medicine (TM) is either the mainstay of health care delivery or serves as a complement to it... TM, of proven quality, safety, and efficacy, contributes to the goal of ensuring that all people have access to care. Many countries now recognize the need to develop a cohesive and integrative approach to health care that allows governments, health care practitioners and, most importantly, those who use health care services, to access T&CM in a safe, respectful, cost-efficient and effective manner.

Clearly, the WHO supports alternative medicine if it is of 'proven quality, safety, and efficacy'. This makes sense, because alternative medicine that works is just medicine. If it meets the same criteria as conventional medicine then it is no different than conventional medicine.

Do note that this is not a blanket statement that all alternative medicines are supported by WHO. Homeopathy, harmonized water, and many other types of 'alternative medicine' are not of proven quality, safety, or (especially) efficacy, so the WHO would definitely not support them.

As a side note, the WHO also has a Spanish version of the document on their site, so it seems unlikely (and unfeasible) that 'some political parties in Spain' are censoring it.

Giter
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    +1 for "alternative medicine that works is just medicine". –  Mar 26 '18 at 06:28
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    There's also the psychological factor -- especially in a country with non-western "traditions", people are more likely to *listen* to a traditional-style healthcare provider than an outsider that calls themselves doctor. So working *with* said TM and making sure they're able to offer the best care possible will be more effective, because more people will trust him/her. There's no room for ego in the business of saving lives. – Shadur Mar 26 '18 at 09:04
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    What traditional medicine actually works? – Graham Chiu Mar 26 '18 at 14:15
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    @GrahamChiu: First one that comes to mind is the ~500 year old [smallpox innoculation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inoculation#China). It brings the mortality rate down to ~1% rather than the usual 20-30%, so it definitely works and is 'traditional'. Not all effective medicines were invented in the last century, we just now know *why* things work. – Giter Mar 26 '18 at 15:52
  • @Giter, last I looked smallpox has been eradicated. – Graham Chiu Mar 26 '18 at 18:03
  • @GrahamChiu: Yep, last case was in the 70's thanks to efforts on improving a [200 year old vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Jenner), which itself was definitely an improvement over the 'snorting smallpox material to inoculate yourself' method used before it. – Giter Mar 26 '18 at 19:54
  • @Giter so the question still stands. What traditional medicine which is not used in the western medical armamentarium at this time has any benefit at all? – Graham Chiu Mar 27 '18 at 00:42
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    @GrahamChiu: 1) "What traditional medicine works better than modern medicine" is a *very* different question than "What traditional medicine actually works". 2) A very effective new medicine doesn't make a moderately effective old medicine stop working. 3) If people are unwilling to take new medicine but are willing to take moderately effective old medicine, then it has at least some small benefit. 4) Armamentarium is an amazing word! – Giter Mar 27 '18 at 00:54
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    @GrahamChiu The most used medical substance in the world — Asprin, ACA, acetyl**sali**cylic acid — derives its name from the traditional method by which it was first manufactured: using the leaves of [Willow trees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow), the *Salix* genus of plants. [ACA and its precursor Salicin has been used as an ache and fever relief for at least 2400 years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspirin). –  Mar 27 '18 at 12:58
  • @Shadur *"There's no room for ego in the business of saving lives"*. Tell that to the Big Alternative industry, and their fan crowd... –  Mar 27 '18 at 13:03
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    @michaelk They're not in the business of saving lives. – Shadur Mar 27 '18 at 13:06
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    @Giter that's what "alternative medicine that works is just medicine" means. Once science exists that some technique isn't certainly harmful conventional doctors use it. [Cupping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupping_therapy) might be pretty close to what you are asking though; "actually works" is questionable, but it has many highly satisfied recipients. –  Mar 27 '18 at 17:39
  • Willow bark, nope. Name anyone using that instead of aspirin. – Graham Chiu Mar 27 '18 at 18:43
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    @GrahamChiu: [First result on Google](https://home-remedies.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-aspirin-from-willow-tree-0142525/) implies at least somebody does, so I name whoever has used that tutorial. – Giter Mar 27 '18 at 20:01
  • @GrahamChiu the question was "that works", not "that is used" or "is better than cheap alternatives". Willow bark works. – Erik Mar 29 '18 at 19:51
  • @Erik and you're able to purchase a standardized preparation of Willow bark that has been subjected to clinical trials so that the dose response curves are known are you? __TM, of proven quality, safety, and efficacy__ – Graham Chiu Mar 29 '18 at 19:54
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    @GrahamChiu I see the goal posts keep moving around. – Erik Mar 29 '18 at 20:08
  • @Erik I said __works__ and in medicine, all of these attributes are implied. – Graham Chiu Mar 29 '18 at 20:14