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A glimpse into traditional outlook towards health: A literature review

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Abstract

Traditional healing processes are delivering health needs to a large number of people in many developing countries. This paper reviews traditional healers' knowledge about concepts of health, etiology, anatomical and physiological knowledge, diagnosis and treatment and management of abnormality.

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Al-Adawi, S. A glimpse into traditional outlook towards health: A literature review. J Med Hum 14, 67–79 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01140207

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