<正>Traditional medicine of the world can be discussed through two perspectives,the descriptive and the prescriptive.The prescriptive approach can be readily understood if we think of "to whom" the traditional medicine or treatment is to be used and "what" is to be used,to make health-care settings better.From an international viewpoint,when we think in the context of "international health",the history of traditional medicine up until the 20^th century can be divided into four periods.