398 Editorial countries of the ancient world. It is expected to become more widely integrated into the modern medical system, including the medical curriculum. As an example, herbal medicine can be broadly classified into four basic systems as follows: Traditional Chinese Herbalism, Ayurvedic Herbalism, Western Herbalism—which originally came from Greece and Rome to Europe and then spread to North and South America—and Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM). Clearly the concept of Arabic traditional herbal medicine is another component of modern life in the Middle East, and it is acquiring world- wide respect, with growing interest among traditional herbalists and the scientific community. TAIM therapies reveal remarkable success in healing acute and chronic diseases and have been utilized by people in the Mediterranean who have faith in spiritual healers. TAIM is the first choice for many in dealing with infer- tility, epilepsy, psychosomatic troubles and depression. Moreover, efficacy and safety of complementary medicine have become increasingly important and supervision of the techniques and procedures is required for commercial as well as traditional uses. More research is therefore needed to understand this type of medicine and to ensure its safe usage. In partnership with TAIM there are the usual Western medical approaches. Moving now to a somewhat distant but related subject, let us consider a clinical approach. Bertrand Graz reminds us that the ancient Greek medical theory based on balance or imbalance of humors disappeared in the Western world. Since it still survives elsewhere, we pose the question is this survival related to a certain degree of health care efficiency? This hypothesis was tested through Graz’s study of classical Greco–Arab medicine in Mauritania. Here is a brief review of the conditions modern general practitioners evaluated with respect to the safety and effectiveness of classical Arabic medicine in a Mauritanian traditional clinic. This was accompa- nied by a prognosis/follow-up method that allows the following comparisons: (i) actual patient progress (clinical outcome) compared with what the traditional ‘tabib’ had anticipated (prognostic ability); and (ii) patient progress compared with what could be hoped for if patients were treated by a modern Western physician in the same neighborhood. According to Graz, practice appeared fairly safe and, on average, the clinical outcome was simi- lar to what could be expected after using modern medi- cine so that in some cases, patient progress was ‘better’ than expected. So what are the implications? Prognosis and outcome studies such as this one may help to develop institutions where: patients find support in making their choices, among several treatment options and medical systems. Both choices are indeed implicit in the practice of CAM. Finally, back to Japan and a CAM modality of inter- national importance. Acupuncture originated in China and is widespread throughout Asia and substantial movement outside. Still there is a higher utilization when compared to Western countries. Ishizaki and a team in Kyoto conducted annual nationwide surveys from 2003 to 2006 to understand the utilization of acupuncture in Japan. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 2000 individuals randomly chosen from the resident database. Reasons given for continuing therapy included the effect- ive amelioration of symptoms, comfort of the procedure and low number of side-effects, while those who decided against continuing cited no improvement of symptoms, cost and lack of time for treatment. Application of the treatment for musculoskeletal problems and utilization by the older population were specific reasons for promin- ent users of acupuncture and/or moxibustion in Japan. These brief reviews have highlighted the international thrust of publications in eCAM. With the last issue, volume 7, no 3, you saw how approaches: hypotheses, basic science and clinical analyses can be amalgamated to attack a single problem, now of epidemic proportions and one that is partially self inflicted and not caused by parasites or a poor environment. Now eCAM is moving on, flying away from OUP its birth nest, perhaps no more a fledging but now easing toward an approaching adolescence. Leaving OUP is bittersweet. My friendship will endure with Prof. Nobuo Yamagachi and Patty Willis and I owe a lot to the generosity of Martin Richardson and Charlotte Brabants and Akiko Tanaka. I have also received sympathetic and highly cooperative support from our eCAM Editorial Board. As a contemporary extension of ancient practices, maybe there is a hidden message in our becoming allied with Hindawi Publishing Corporation in Egypt, a coun- try whose culture may be arguably older than India and China the birthplaces of TCM and Ayurveda. I will con- tinue as Editor in Chief with a wind of renewed vigor not only for pleasure of continued nurturing of eCAM; there is more. No doubt I will have a chance to visit Cairo and its institutions. I spent my third sabbatical year at Cairo University, (in 1985–86) Department of Zoology. Some of my colleagues are still around along with others at the American University Cairo, the National Research Center at Dokki and the NAMRU Onword! References 1. Choi SH, Chang IM. A milestone in codifying the wisdom of tradi- tional Oriental Medicine: TCM, Kampo, TKM, TVM—WHO inter- national standard terminologies on traditional medicine in the Western pacific region. eCAM January 5, 2009; doi: 10.1093/ ecam/nen083 [Epub ahead of print]. 2. Azaiszeh H, Saad B, Cooper EL, Said O. Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine, a re-emerging health aid. eCAM June 13, 2008; doi: 10.1093/ecam/nen039 [Epub ahead of print]. 3. Graz B. Prognostic ability of practitioners of traditional Arabic Medicine: comparison with Western methods through a relative patient progress scale. eCAM March 13, 2008; doi: 10.1093/ecam/ nen022 [Epub ahead of print]. 4. Ishizaki N, Yano T, Kawakita K. Public status and prevalence of Acupuncture in Japan. eCAM June 19, 2008; doi: 10.1093/ecam/ nen037 [Epub ahead of print].