Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Discussion

Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine 
http://www.siom.edu/
Main Campus
916 NE 65th Street
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: 206-517-4541
Fax: 206-526-1932
 
Bastyr University 
http://www.bastyr.edu/
Bastyr University Campus
14500 Juanita Drive NE
Kenmore, WA 98028
Phone: 425-602-3330
Fax: 425-602-3090
 
Wu Hsing Tao School 
Talaris World Campus
4000 NE 41st Street, Building D
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206-324-7188
Fax: 206-324-3825

Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine 
http://www.atom.edu/
100 E. Broward Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-763-9840
 
Florida College of Integrative Medicine 
http://fcim.edu/
Main Campus
7100 Lake Ellenor Drive
Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: 407-888-8689
Fax: 407-888-8211
Toll-Free: 877-492-9298
 
Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine 
http://www.dragonrises.edu/
Main Campus
1000 NE 16th Avenue, Bldg F
Gainesville, FL 32601
Phone: 352-371-2833
Fax: 352-371-2867
Toll-Free: 1-800-606-6685
 
National University of Health Sciences 
http://www.nuhs.edu/
University Partnership Center of St. Petersburg College
9200 113th Street North
Seminole, FL 33772
Phone: 630-889-6566
Fax: 630-889-6554
Toll-Free: 800-826-6285
 
East West College of Natural Medicine 
http://www.ewcollege.org/
3808 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: 941-355-9080
Fax: 941-355-9080
Toll-Free: 800-883-5528
 
Acupuncture & Massage College 
http://www.amcollege.edu/
Main Campus
10506 N. Kendall Drive
Miami, FL 33176
Phone: 305-595-9500
Fax: 305-595-2622
 
Academy for Five Element Acupuncture 
Gainesville Campus
305 SE 2nd Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Phone: 352-335-2332
Fax: 352-337-2535
 
Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine 
Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM)
9700 West Highway 318
Reddick, FL 32686
Phone: 352-591-5385
Fax: 352-591-2854
Toll-Free: 800-891-1986

Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine of New York Chiropractic College 
http://aom.nycc.edu
2360 State Route 89
Seneca Falls, NY 13148
Phone: 800-234-6922
Fax: 315-568-3087
Toll-Free: 800-234-6922

 
Tri-State College of Acupuncture 
http://www.tsca.edu/
80 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-242-2255
Fax: 212-242-2920
 
 
New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
NYCTCM Manhattan Auxiliary
http://www.nyctcm.edu/
13 East 37th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-685-0888
Fax: 212-685-1883
 
New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
http://www.nyctcm.edu/
155 1st Street
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone: 516-739-1545
Fax: 516-873-9622
 
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine 
http://www.pacificcollege.edu/
915 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212-982-3456
Fax: 212-982-6514
Toll-Free: 800-729-3468

Chicago Campus:
3646 N. Broadway, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60613
United States
888-729-4811 – toll-free
773-477-4822 – phone
773-477-4109 – fax

San Diego Campus:
7445 Mission Valley Road, Suite 105
San Diego, CA 92108
United States
800-729-0941 – toll-free
619-574-6909 – phone
619-574-6641 – fax
 
Tri State College of Acupuncture
80 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-242-2255
Fax: 212-242-2920
 
 
New York College of Health Professions
6801 Jericho Turnpike
Syosset, NY 11791
Phone: 516-364-0808 ext. 351
Fax: 516-364-0989
Toll-Free: 800-922-7337 ext. 351

SOME couples struggle to conceive, especially when infertility might be an underlying problem.

And besides undergoing Western fertility treatments, some are turning to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for help.

TCM treatments include herbal remedies and acupuncture, which are meant to bring the body into balance and thus facilitate conception.

But those who turn to TCM should know that TCM isn’t a quick fix, said physician Loh Kim Gek, 55.

As with Western medicine, a substantial amount of time and patience may be required before a couple sees a successful result.

With TCM, couples need to undergo at least nine to 12 months of consistent treatment, said Ms Loh, who is one of four physicians at the fertility unit in free clinic Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution.

Ms Loh, who has more than 20 years of experience, added: “I feel a sense of satisfaction when my patients bring along their babies to meet me. It makes me very happy.”

She has helped about 30 per cent of some 900 couples to conceive.

She said that the success rate could have been as high as 50 per cent if some of those couples had stuck to their treatment without giving up halfway.

Although women are traditionally blamed for fertility problems, Ms Loh said that, in seven out of 10 cases, the problem actually lies with the male.

She will give a talk on Saturday to explain how TCM can help to boost fertility, and how one can improve one’s constitution. my paper gets her to answer some questions from readers.

Why would TCM be better than Western medicine in fertility treatments?

MS JOEY GWEE, 25

Ms Loh: TCM treatment for gynaecological problems has a long history in China, and has proved to be effective.

To me, TCM and Western medicine serve complementary needs. TCM treats the root problem, while Western medicine tackles the symptoms.

For instance, if you have ovulation problems or problems with the quality of your ovaries, TCM treatment – which comprises Chinese medicine as well as acupuncture – can improve the function of the ovaries. TCM can also help strengthen men’s sperm to enable a higher chance of conception.

But if you have problems such as a blockage in your fallopian tube due to ovarian cysts, then I would recommend Western treatment to remove them. My wife and I have been trying to have a baby for two years.

What can we do to improve our chances of conceiving?

MR J. Y. QUEK, 31

Ms Loh: Firstly, you should learn how to be free of worry. When people are anxious, it will affect the quality of a woman’s ovaries and the effectiveness of sperm. In my talk, I will share some simple methods for relieving stress.

Secondly, you need to build up your constitution and prevent development of illnesses. Illnesses during the ovulation period can greatly affect conception.

You can improve your general health by drinking teas, such as chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea, boiled dried longan, American ginseng and red dates, or wolfberry and lily tea with some brown sugar. But do consult your TCM physician to see if these are suitable for your condition, and seek treatment as soon as possible.

A leading pharmaceutical firm that produces traditional Chinese medicine in the northwestern Gansu Province is hoping to make Sweden its gateway to the European Union market after a landmark EU directive on herbal drugs takes effect in 15 months.

    ”We have applied to export our medicine to Sweden and eventually other EU markets,” said Sun Yu, deputy general manager of Foci Pharmaceuticals based in Lanzhou, the provincial capital.

    Sun said Friday he saw a ray of hope in a two-hour visit by Dr. Magnus Breidne, science counselor of the Swedish Embassy in China and Christina Chuck, general manager of the Stockholm-based Wilkris & Co, to his workshops on Thursday.

    Foci Pharmaceuticals, founded in 1929, has been selling herb extracted pills to 27 countries and regions including the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.

    It is China’s largest exporter of herbal products in terms of volume and number of destinations. But like all other Chinese herbal exporters, its pills are categorized as “food” or “healthcare products” instead of “drug” in the international market.

    EU’s Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, issued in2004, however, requires all herbal medicine products to obtain an authorization to market within the EU starting in April 2011.

    The directive requires evidence proving 30 years’ use — of which 15 years must be in the EU community, to ensure safety.

    ”If we cannot obtain the authorization, our products will be taken off the shelves in EU next year,” said Sun Yu. “It’ll be a great loss for the Chinese industry as well as our European buyers who are relying on Chinese herbal medicine to keep fit.”

    As the only herbal pharmacy in China to have 15 years of presence in the EU, Sun said his company was still the most hopeful to cross the barrier. “There’s a technical, as well as a cultural, barrier to get over.”

    Foci failed to be accredited for sale in Britain in 2006. “We are hoping to enter the Swedish market, where the accreditation procedures are less strict,” said Sun.

    His company has applied for authorization of 10 product categories to be sold to Sweden. “We hope one or two will make it in the coming 15 months.”

    Dr. Breidne said the Swedes were not very familiar with herbal medicine. “But I suppose they will be quite interested.”

    Twenty years ago the Europeans had no idea about Chinese acupuncture. “Today, it’s popular among many women,” she said.

    While most Swedish thought herbal medicine might, to some extent, prevent illnesses, it still needed time and research to prove that the herbs were really effective and safe, she added.

    Chuck, from an industry insider’s perspective, suggested Chinese companies should study the international market from the westerners’ standpoint. “It’s also necessary to mark clearly the products’ ingredients and side effects, which are sometimes not listed properly in herbal medicine from China.”

    China exported 193 million U.S. dollars worth of herbal medicine to the EU in 2008, the most recent data available from the General Administration of Customs.

    The State Food and Drug Administration is working to enhance foreign exchanges and cooperation in the accreditation and authorization of traditional Chinese medicine in other countries, said Zhang Wei, an official in charge of drug accreditation.

    ”We’ll try to build a platform for traditional herbal medicine to enter the EU market,” he said.

SINGAPORE: The number of complaints against practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been falling.

    In reply to a question in parliament from Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Lam Pin Min, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said there were six complaints last year, seven in 2008 and ten in 2007.

The complaints were mainly related to allegations of professional negligence, misconduct and the misuse of Western medicine.

    Dr Lam also asked if TCM practitioners need to be covered by professional indemnity against costs and damages in clinical negligence cases.

    To this, Mr Khaw replied that the TCM Practitioners Board encourages all registered TCM practitioners to be covered by professional indemnity insurance on a voluntary basis.

Researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences reported in the recent issue of “Cancer Research” the discovery of a novel mechanism of a traditional Chinese medicine in treating cancer.

The traditional Chinese herb medicine Euphorbia fischeriana Steud has been widely used in China for treating various cancers. Several compounds in the medicinal herb have been reported to have anti-tumor effects. However, the mechanisms of these compounds in inhibiting tumor growth have not been fully understood.

Dr. Ying Wang from Dr Yu’s research group, identified 17-hydroxy-jolkinolide B (HJB) from the herb as a novel inhibitor of the JAK family kinases. The mechanism of this compound is rather unique. It covalently cross-links the JAKs into dimers and inactivates their kinase activities. This effect on the JAKs is very specific. It does not affect many other kinases. As a consequence, it induces apoptosis of tumor cells, particularly those with constitutively activated JAK/STAT3. The JAK family kinases are important targets for anti-cancer and anti-inflammation drugs.

This discovery provides a new direction for JAK inhibitor drug research and development. It also helps to understand the mechanisms of the traditional Chinese medicines in treating cancer.

Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a new prescription for health as medical institutions will now be required to bolster their TCM departments.

A circular released yesterday by the State Council ordered local governments to include hospitals for traditional medicine in their health service networks.

It also requires health institutions to improve TCM training, facilities and medicines.

“Every community health service station and village health clinic should be able to offer TCM services,” the circular said.

Governments at various levels will increase investment in public hospitals for traditional medicine to improve facilities, support research and train doctors.

“The guideline plays an important part in playing up the use of TCM in the recent medical reform,” Wang Guoqiang, director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine said yesterday in a written reply to China Daily.

“It will boost TCM development with concrete support from governments at all levels.”

One of the highlights is that “the circular positions TCM equally with western medicines in legal status, academic development and in practice,” said Wang, who is also vice-minister of health.

“Traditional medicines have outstanding advantages. They cost much less than western medicines,” Professor Ha Xiaoxian from Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

“They will fit in with the health service in rural areas and communities.”

In the circular, the State Council said traditional medicines will be included with the State’s basic medicines and traditional medicine hospitals will be in the list of designated hospitals under the country’s basic health insurance programs for both rural and urban residents.

The government will welcome private investors to invest in hospitals or pharmacies for traditional medicine.

It also encourages veteran doctors to open their own clinics and allows doctors to work at dispensing shops that sell traditional medicines.

According to the circular, the government plans to register ancient medical books, develop a catalog and set up a digital database for them.

The government also encourages apprenticeships for training doctors as an alternative to medical schools, especially in rural areas.

Traditional Chinese medicine has unique theories and practices such as herbal medicines, acupuncture, massage and dietary therapy, independent from western medicine.

For some time, it was pushed to the side as many of its theories could not be explained by modern medicine, but it has recently become popular among Chinese as an alternative way to keep fit.

“Traditional medicine performs well in treating chronic diseases and its theories help people develop healthy life styles,” Ha said.

Acubalance recommended some natural preventions against the swine flu. See below…

“…A few years ago when the SARS pandemic virus infection broke out across the world, hospitals in China developed some preventative herbal formulas for their hospital staff. According to the University of Hong Kong, School of Chinese Medicine, none of the staff at their clinics who had been taking these herbal teas for more than a month became infected. Many of the herbs in the formulas have broad anti-viral properties and, as well, immune enhancing abilities to protect the individual. (see updated post on hebs and prevention)

Below we have suggested some Chinese herbs that can be used in a formula as preventative measures for any form of flu.

Flu Prevention formula for general use: If you are already seeing a practitioner of Chinese Medicine they may
modify the formula, or give you a different one, according to
your individual constitution (the true strength of Chinese Medicine!).

Huang Qi (Astragalus) 10-15g
Isatis root (banlangen) 12 g
Lonicera (jinyinhua) 15 g
Forsythia (lianqiao) 15 g
Coix (yiyiren) 15 g
Pseudostellaria (taizishen) 15 g
Atractylodes (baizhu) 15 g
Licorice (gancao) 9 g

For those with a weaker constitution and/ or digestion complaints add the following two ingredients:
Pogostemon, Hou Xiong 15 g
Eupatorium, Pei Lan 9

For a preventative dietary method try:

Dice one 6 inch piece of white radish (Daikon) diced in small bits.
Chop up a small bunch of scallions (including roots).
Add to a pot with 4-5 cups of water and bring to a boil.
Simmer for 20 minutes to make a soup and drink a half cup of it. (You can eat the radish and scallions as well!)
This preparation is enough for 5 people for a day. You can also store it in the fridge and warm when needed.”
source: http://www.acubalance.ca/immune-boosting-and-antiviral-chinese-herbs-flu-prevention

(NatureNews) Mushrooms are gaining popularity as a beneficial super food in North America. They are high in vegetable proteins and low in calories, making them a valuable source of healthy nutrition. They also contain zinc, iron, chitin, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Not only are mushrooms a healthy addition to the diet, they also have important medicinal properties.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has used mushrooms for thousands of years. There are over 200 species of mushrooms in China that are used to practice healing. An amazing 25 percent of these mushrooms are credited with tumor-fighting capabilities.
For details, see http://www.naturalnews.com/025568.html