Apuntes históricos sobre el surgimiento de la Medicina Natural y Tradicional en Pinar del Río

Introduction: Natural and Traditional Medicine, term adopted in Cuba, is internationally known as alternative, energetic and naturalistic or complementary medicine, it is part of the universal cultural heritage, where its concepts and practices have been inherited from generation to generation. Objective: to describe the historical development of Natural and Traditional Medicine in Pinar del Rio province, Cuba, for current and future generations of students and healthcare professionals. Methods: a qualitative, historical and situational, descriptive research was conducted by means of testimonies of people who were part of it, particularly the authors and secondary sources for the compilation of information, which have allowed making a synthesis of its development all through the years. Result: it was evidenced that the evolution of Natural and Traditional Medicine Service in the province started according to the changes derived from the regulations declared by the direction of the State for the development of this specialty; thermalism is one of the natural but old practices of the province, it was notable the development reached in the training of professionals and technicians. Conclusions: Pinar del Rio province, has a history in the practice of Natural and Traditional Medicine along with places of important values for the maintenance and recovery of health, reasons to underline on the importance of its knowledge.