Traditional Medicine Knowledge and Its Contribution to Sustainable Development

Barriga-Soto O.; Cuneo-Álvarez G.; Bedoya-Chanove J.D.C.; Alvarez-Becerra R.; Acevedo-Duque A. · Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-99702-0_19

Resumen

Traditional Andean medicine is an ancestral knowledge system deeply rooted in the worldview of indigenous peoples, playing a crucial role in community health, environmental sustainability, and social and economic cohesion. This article, through a narrative review with a qualitative approach, examines its contribution to sustainable development, integrating sources from anthropology, ethnobotany, and public health to explore its benefits and challenges in contemporary healthcare. Despite its legal recognition, its integration into formal health systems remains limited, underestimating its potential to reduce health inequalities and align with the Sustainable Development Goals. Traditional Andean medicine not only complements Western medicine but also preserves cultural identity and promotes environmental conservation. Strengthening its role requires public policies that ensure its recognition and intergenerational transmission, fostering an inclusive and intercultural health model that harmonizes ancestral knowledge with modern medicine to achieve equitable and sustainable development. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada de Tacna; Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann