Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río (Dec 2017)
Natural and Traditional Medicine in Medical Parasitology
Abstract
Introduction: medicinal plants and herbal medicines are therapeutic elements in primary health care. For this reason medical students must learn their principles, considering the binomials benefit-risk and benefit-cost. Objective: to insert Natural and Traditional Medicine as a curricular strategy in the topic of Medical Parasitology included in Microbiology and Parasitology subject in medical studies. Methods: the educational research in the undergraduate area comprises two stages: 1) application of surveys to students in order to inquire about the degree of knowledge about Natural and Traditional Medicine and learn the starting level in the investigation 2) to introduce the elements of Natural and Traditional Medicine in the program of the subject, discussed in the staff of the subject. Results: Natural and Traditional Medicine elements (phytotherapy, apitherapy and ozone therapy) were inserted in the subject corresponding to Medical Parasitology subject to solve the learning needs of the students. Conclusion: the contents of the science linked to Natural and Traditional Medicine are reinforced as an alternative or complementary therapy for the prevention and cure of parasitic diseases in men, which meets the demands of the professional model.
