Relaxation techniques decrease anxiety in dementia
Reuters Health(reuters.com), 1 July 2009

Acupressure and Montessori-based activities decrease agitation in institutionalized residents with dementia, according to a report by Dr. Li-Chan Lin from National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, and colleagues in The New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers explored the efficacy of acupressure and Montessori-based activities in decreasing agitated behaviour in 133 institutionalized residents with dementia. This was compared with the potentially calming presence of a visitor who acted as a control. Acupressure daily for four weeks significantly decreased agitation and related behaviour. Montessori-based activities used in conjunction significantly improved aggressive behavior. This treatment has the potential to make caring for such individuals much easier.

Beijing spends 10 million yuan to encourage TCM in cure of H1N1
Chinaview (www.chinaview.com), 7 July 2009

The Beijing municipal government has allocated ten million yuan to support the use of TCM in treating the H1N1 influenza, the Beijing Administration Bureau of TCM (BJTCM) said. Four million of this amount would be spent on clinical tests and the rest on laboratory research to develop TCM for treatment. Tu Zhitao, a director in the BJTCM, was quoted by The Beijing News as saying that Beijing had treated more than 30 H1N1 patients with TCM only and over 10 of them had been discharged from hospital. However, these patients had only minor symptoms on admission. TCM is commonly used to treat seasonal flu, but its effect is often a little slower than Western medicine. When people have strong regular influenza they tend to go for Western medicine.

Chinese medicinal herbs expected to become school plants
CCTV.com, 8 July 2009

A pilot program introducing TCM into primary schools will be launched in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The program is aimed at helping young people, understand the species, appearances and effects of herbs and TCM in general by growing the plants themselves. The children will be taught how to grow radix isatidis and henbane, TCM claims that can relieve fever and pain, as well as four other herbs.

Experts explore therapeutic prospects of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Business Weekly (www.businessweekly.co.uk), 15 July 2009

A Sino-UK summit on TCM is being held in Cambridge, Unite Kingdom to explore ways that TCM can be further developed into new therapies. Leading experts from various areas of medicine will take part at the summit, which is being held at the Li Ka Shing Centre, Addenbrooke Hospital. Dr Tai-Ping Fan, head of the angiogenesis & TCM Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, and Professor Alan Barrell, who has strong links with Chinese business and academia are the drivers behind the summit. The aim has been to create a Cambridge centre for TCM, working with universities, research institutes, pharmaceutical companies and philanthropists. The organisers want to promote international collaborations for the development of TCM-based functional foods, botanical drugs and pharmaceuticals.

African Feature: traditional Chinese medicine explores AIDS treatment opportunities in Tanzania
Chinaview (www.chinaview.cn), 15 July 2009

TCM has been used in HIV/AIDS treatment since 1987 when it was first used at the Muhimbili Medical Center in Tanzania in 1987. At that time, there was no other known treatment for these conditions. Rosina Lipyoga, assistant director of Clinical Services at the Muhimbili National Hospital in charge of the project. When anti-retroviral drugs became available in 2004, some patients changed over to the new treatment while others still used the TCM, with some degrees of success. A total of 54 Chinese medical experts have worked at the hospital since the 1980s and 1,054 HIV/AIDS patients had been treated. Although have been sured, 75 percent have had their health status improved.

Chinese medicine found to have undeclared Western medicine
EmaxHealth (http://www.emaxhealth.com), 24 July 2009

The Hong Kong Department of Health called on members of the public not to buy or use a proprietary Chinese medicine named "Kam Yuen Brand Wan Ying Yang Gan Wan" which was found to have adulterated with western medicine, sildenafil that may cause serious side effects. The importer of the product, Kam Yuen Medicine Company, informed the Department that sildenafil was found in the product during product testing. The side effects of sildenafil include low blood pressure, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and vision disturbances. It may also interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs.

Foreign reporters curious about traditional Chinese medicine treating Swine flu
CCTV.com,27 July 2009

Since 22 July, 156 out of 327 confirmed H1N1 influenza patients at Beijing Ditan Hospital and Beijing Youan Hospital had been treated with only TCM. Of these, 125 have recovered and returned home. On 23 July, Tu Zhitao, chief of the technological department at Beijing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, briefed 73 reporters from 35 foreign press agencies, including AP and Reuters on the use of TCM to prevent and cure H1N1 flu on their visit to Beijing Hospital of TCM.

Compiled By:
Jennifer Eagleton, BA, MA (Asian Studies), Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.