Unlicensed masseurs rally in fight for 'right to survival'
The China Post, 03 May 2010

In Taipei, more than 1000 unlicensed masseurs took to the streets to protest against the government's decision to ban them from clinics providing TCM and treatment. Chang Chih-sheng, one of the protesters, complained that the government did not consult them or prepare any coping measures before making the decision to put them out of work. "Our modest request is that the government devises a testing mechanism to allow us to sit a test so that we can obtain a license to continue our careers," Chang said.

New TCM cures for killer disease
China Daily, 6 May 2010

Beijing will spend 60 million yuan in three years to encourage TCM hospitals and doctors to treat 10 ailments, including vascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, spinal disease, arthritis, hepatitis, avian influenza, cancer, depression and AIDS. The project called "10 diseases 10 drugs", aims at providing residents with safe and cheap TCM therapies for the ten most harmful diseases within five to ten years. An official from the Beijing administration of TCM said their intention is to gather effective prescriptions from hospitals and veteran physicians, and do further research to develop new drugs that are affordable to most patients.

Traditional Chinese Medicine, a new investment channel
China Daily, 14 May 2010

Traditional Chinese Medicines have been picked by speculators and their prices have been increasing since May, the China Radio reported. "In the past 10 days, all kinds of herbal medicines have seen an increase in prices," said Jiang, a medicine dealer. Analysts estimated that increase in demands for TCMs coupled with a low supply makes TCMs a new channel for investment. The overall yield of TCMs has been negatively influenced because of low prices in previous years and bad whether conditions.

Shaolin Temple's bid to build hospital approved
People's Daily Online, 18 May 2010

Shaolin Temple has been approved to build a hospital, the Shaolin Pharmacy House Hospital. The staffs will be mainly the monks and other disciples from the temple. Shi Yanlin, chief of Shaolin Pharmacy House, said the new hospital will focus on treatment through the practice of Zen meditation and kungfu, as well as food therapy. He also said the hospital will be built within two years.

Sure cure for medical ignorance
The Standard, 20 May 2010

Baptist University has embarked on a mission to quash the idea that Chinese medicine is something difficult to understand. Its School of Chinese Medicine has hired a registered traditional practitioner to take charge of patient consultation and publicity. Outside consultation hours, Chan Yi-yi conducts workshops at schools, she also escorts students on tours of the university's Museum of Chinese Medicine to increase their understanding of traditional medicine and answer their questions.

China and Australia signs MOU on establishing traditional Chinese medical center in Sydney
People's Daily Online, 26 May 2010

China's State Administration of TCM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Sydney with the government of New South Wales which aims to introducing TCM treatment to the local people in Australia. At the signing ceremony, Li Daning, deputy commissioner of the State Administration of TCM, said the new medical center is of special significance to the bilateral cooperation in the medical area and to the development of TCM in Australia's health system, as it will be the first medical center abroad that combines TCM with western medicine to treat western patients. The new medical center is scheduled to be put into operation in 2012 in north Sydney. Coincidentally, the Australian government has decided to start official registration for TCM practitioners from July 1, 2012.

Young drug abusers find herbal relief
The Standard, 27 May 2010

Hong Kong Baptist University claims they has found a traditional cure for the side-effects of ketamine, including amnesia, insomnia, faster heart beat and frequent urination. In a pilot study, nearly all of the 10 patients treated with Chinese herbal remedies have shown improvement. The university's school of medicine assistant professor Xu Min said that clinical studies have to be carried out to further test the effectiveness of the herbs used. He said Chinese medicines used in the treatment of drug abusers are designed to remove toxic materials from the body, relieve symptoms and regulate and invigorate bodily functions.

Kungfu needs ideas to fly into future
People's Daily Online, 27 May 2010

Chinese kungfu does not enjoy much edge over Muay Thai (Thai boxing) or boxing. Even in China, many free combat sportsmen don't believe in reclusive kungfu masters. Xu Xiaodong, a taichi chuan and baguang zhang expert said: "Modern weapons have made fighting skills less important, for example, taichi chuan, now the favorite gentle and slow-motion exercise of senior citizens, is in fact a martial art that can injure rivals seriously." "We have to face up to reality. History has changed a lot," Xu said. "Kungfu has to carry new social responsibilities, such as merging it with traditional Chinese medicine to promote health, or using it to find the true meaning of Chinese culture, or combining it with modern boxing to raise its fighting level."

Cross-border deal is just what the doctor ordered
The Standard, 28 May 2010

Hong Kong entrepreneurs will be able to build wholly owned private hospitals in two cities and three provinces in the mainland from January under CEPA agreements signed. The accords include 35 measures covering 19 industries, with the medical sector being the key beneficiary. At present, 20991 doctors, Chinese medicine practitioners and dentists can apply for licenses. Under the new rules, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, medical laboratory technologists, occupational therapists, optometrists, radiographers, physiotherapists and chiropractors can also practice in the mainland.

HUYA Bioscience International strengthens R&D leadership in TCM with...
Forbes.com, 28 May 2010

HUYA Bioscience International announced a strategic partnership with the School of Chinese Materia Medica of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM). The agreement with the school provides HUYA with access to and first review of certain novel therapeutic candidates owned or controlled by the school. In return, the school gains access to HUYA's expertise in preclinical and clinical development and its global network of pharmaceutical partners.

Net stores advertise folk remedy made from boy's urine, some skeptical
People's Daily Online, 31 May 2010

Boasting of its effectiveness as traditional medicine, online stores are selling the urine of small boys for prices ranging from 0.1 yuan to 9999 yuan. Almost all the online stores claim boy urine is powerful and can cure hundreds of diseases, promotes beauty and nourishes the body. Some shops also put up urine therapy articles to persuade potential customers of the urine's effectiveness. Some in the business sector said that the practices of the online shops are false propaganda, violate the relevant provisions of the Food Safety Law and should be investigated.

Compiled By:
Rose Tse, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.