TM/CAM therapies often develop within a very specific cultural
environment. Yet, increasingly, they are transferred to other
cultural environments. This raises safety and efficacy issues.
For instance, are the transferred therapies applied with the
same degree of training, skill and knowledge as in their
original environment? Acupuncture is a case in point. Now widely
practised in many countries other than China - its country of
origin - acupuncture has probably become one of the world's most
popular TM/CAM therapies. WHO has accordingly worked with
experts in acupuncture to propose a standard international
nomenclature. This is now widely accepted. WHO has also
developed Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture
and Guidelines for Clinical Research on Acupuncture. These
guidelines strongly encourage national health authorities to
regulate acupuncture practice and research. Similarly, TM/CAM
products, particularly herbal medicines, are now traded inter-
regionally and internationally. Many health