Central Role of Traditional Mongolian Medicine in Mongolia's Current Healthcare System

For thousands of years, Traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM) has been an essential aspect of Mongolian culture and identity. A practice that has existed for over 4000 years and has been passed down for generations, Traditional Mongolian medicine was founded from the influences of early prominent religions and philosophies including Shamanism, Buddhism, and Daoism, which have contributed to TMM’s holistic nature. During the 20th century, TMM took a back seat to the rise of Western-based medical practices. In the present day, with the support of the government, TMM continues to exhibit a significant role in the treatment of chronic diseases, but in a delicate balance with Western medicine. Published research and articles provide new insights on TMM’s projections in the future and see great potential moving forward. This project will investigate the central role of Traditional Mongolian medicine in Mongolia’s current healthcare system as well as explanations of its evolution. Divided chronologically into three sections, this review, along with my personal experiences and interactions while I was stationed at one of Ulaanbaatar’s general hospitals on a Klemm Fellowship, highlights the impact of TMM’s foundations on its approach towards healthcare and how time can shape people’s perceptions towards treatment and wellbeing.