Courting wellness: why medicine is getting healthier
huffingtonpost.com , 2 October 2013

A rising and unsustainable national healthcare tab, $2.7 trillion has brought along more than $300 billion to healthcare bill for preventive care and wellness. This may be contributed by a number of factors, such as follow the money trail, more data and clinical success, a glut of medicine, Obamacare and workplace wellness, consumer demand, and globalization of healthcare. The momentum created by new research, unsustainable models and consumer market forces will continue to extend the role of prevention and wellness. Lower costs and healthier patients are strong incentives, especially with an aging and sedentary population.

Liquorice alleviates troublesome symptoms following intubation
medicalxpress.com , 3 October 2013

A study by the MedUni Vienna has scientifically confirmed the healing properties of liquorice, that for patients who require a double-lumen tube following lung surgery and who consequently suffer frequent sore throats, hoarseness and coughs, liquorice markedly reduced the frequency of post-operative symptoms. Even more, patients were significantly fewer side effects associated with anaesthesia. The study published in the science journal Anesthesia & Analgesia, and liquorice is already being offered to all pre-operative patients at three European hospitals.

A southern staple
English.news.cn , 4 October 2013

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization said eating insects could help end food shortages across the world. In fact, it urged people to eat them as a nutritious supplement. To some southern Chinese people, they have long known that bugs, whether crunchy or squishy, big or small, are not only tasty and filling, but great sources of nutrients. Insects are available uncooked at wet markets or served at restaurants, including peanut worms, cicada pupae and larvae, diving beetles, scorpions, bamboo weevil larvae and locusts.

How infertility can be treated with acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine
myvalleynews.com , 4 October 2013

The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics tracked US fertility problems, that 6% of married women were considered infertile and 10.9% of women had impaired fecundity. TCM has efficacy at increasing fertility in both men and women. This "whole person" treatment can create better egg quality, or a stronger embryo, and to improve sperm quality in male. It also regulates the body’s hormonal production, which in turn improves ovarian function, egg quality, and proper hormone levels and relaxes the body and reduces stress levels to improve reproductive function.

Amway breaks ground on $10 million botanical research center in Wuxi, China
digitaljournal.com , 9 October 2013

The center will serve as a site for agricultural research on plants used in TCM with the goal of incorporating developments into global launches of nutrition and beauty products. It will be located in Wuxi Cultural Park, a location selected for its soil, climate and surroundings, and will be the company's second research and development center in China. The agricultural component will expand the company's global focus on organic, sustainable farming practices.

Purdue vision-loss research eyes Chinese medicine
necn.com , 15 October 2013

A Purdue University researcher collaborates with a Chinese eye center and university to discover new drugs that possibly could cure or prevent vision loss and retinal degeneration. Yuk Fai Leung's new laboratory with the Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong is testing the benefits of TCM, including herbs, flowers and other plants. The partners decided to focus on retinal degeneration because it affects so many individuals. Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss in seniors worldwide.

Beijing to tighten control on TCM injections
wantchinatimes.com , 15 October 2013

There have been 103,000 adverse reactions to Chinese medicine-based injections, Beijing began to tighten supervision and control of the injections. TCM injections have become the largest seller in the TCM market in China, accounting for seven of the top ten OTC medicines for cardiovascular and antitumor treatment. The market scale of TCM injections tops RMB$25-30 billion per year, an average growth rate of 21% over the past five years. 140 types of TCM injections are available from 150 pharmaceutical firms, several listed TCM firms have maintained 30% of annual growth thanks to the contribution of injection drugs.

MINDBODY Exchange partners with the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
massagemag.com , 16 October 2013

MINDBODY Exchange has partnered with the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM). Through Exchange, ACTCM graduates will have the ability to create personalized business profiles that are credentialed and supported by a customer review feature, as well as tap into an existing base of customers. ACTCM will in turn promote MINDBODY Exchange to its current and prospective student body as a vehicle for maximizing online exposure for business growth, and bringing more consumer awareness to the Chinese medicine practice.

China allocates funds to support traditional medicine
english.peopledaily.com.cn , 16 October 2013

The Chinese central government has allocated RMB$1.49 billion to support development of TCM in the rest of 2013. The move came after the State Council issued guidelines to boost the nation's health service sector, which required relevant authorities to take advantage of TCM in disease prevention and healthcare. The new fund will be used to promote research and development of TCM at the grass-roots level, establish workshops for senior famous doctors, construct centers in rural areas and fund professional training.

Agency directs TCM production to ensure safety of consumers
China Daily , 17 October 2013

The China Food and Drug Administration will attempt to improve the production of TCM with the help of government agencies. In a publicized directive, a number of processing methods were banned, such as using sulfur in smoking Chinese herbs. Other government agencies, including the ministries of agriculture, commerce and industry and information technology will join in the force. China has 17 major markets for raw materials used in TCM, including in Bozhou, Anhui province, and An'guo, Hebei province, which will be required to play important roles in enforcing the directive.

Chinese Patent Medicine Market Analysis & 2015 Forecasts in New Research Report
digitaljournal.com , 19 October 2013

In recent years, Chinese patent medicine industry has been running in good condition, with the revenue increasing from RMB$142 billion in 2008 to RMB$360 billion in 2012 at a CAGR of 26.2%. Over the same period, the total profit maintained a CAGR of 26.6%, and the gross margin remained higher than the average level of the overall pharmaceutical industry. In succession to the Twelfth Five-Year Plan on the Development of TCM and other favorable policies, the market demand is expected to grow rapidly in the next five years.

ICCBS, Chinese institute to work on herbal medicine
brecorder.com , 19 October 2013

The International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University, and Institute of Xinjiang Traditional Uygur Medicine (IXJUM) have inked a memorandum of understanding to carry out research work on traditional medicine for the discovery of new herbal medicines. The agreement will further establish co-operation in spheres of scientific research, education and training between the ICCBS-KU and IXJUM. Director IXJUM said Institute of Xinjiang was sole institution specially targeting on research and development of traditional Uygur medicine in China.

RFID pilot checks Chinese meds for authenticity
securingindustry.com , 20 October 2013

LSCM RFID reader unitA pilot project in Hong Kong is examining the use of radiofrequency identification (RFID) to authenticate traditional Chinese medicines in the retail setting. The Hong Kong R&D Centre of Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies (LSCM) is heading the pilot, which involves placing RFID tags on packs of TCM during manufacturing. The Centre is working with companies such as Eu Yan Sang, Hin Sang Hong, Ling Nam Medicine Factory and Wisdom Come on the project, which has the registered trademark Authen✓tick.

Cancer fears color herbal meds scene
thestandard.com.hk , 21 October 2013

In Hong Kong, The food and health chief has voiced concern over mainland reports of cancer- causing industrial dyes being used in TCM. But there is "no report of the problematic batches having been imported to Hong Kong," Ko Wing-man added. Herbal medicine samples from Guangdong, Anhui, Gansu and Sichuan based on three types of herb, Tibetan safflower, safflower and corydalis, were found to contain auramine O, an industrial chemical used to dye paper and leather.

Back to nature for answers
China Daily , 22 October 2013

Yaacov Ben-David, an internationally renowned molecular biologist, recently put down roots in Guizhou province, a place he believes the next generation of cancer cures will come from. At a time when Western academies are suffering budget cuts, China is trying hard to attract more academics and entrepreneurs from abroad. In late 2011, the government initiated the One Thousand Foreign Experts Project, to invite more specialists into the country in the next 10 years. Successful candidates get a subsidy of up to RMB$1 million from the central government and scientific researchers can get RMB$3 to 5 million in research allowances.

China launches TCM census
Xinhua , 18 October 2013

The State Administration for Traditional Chinese Medicine announced the first national census on TCM resources in more than two decades. The administration said that some 9,000 types of TCM materials have already been researched during the preparation and trial census stage that started in 2009. The census will be in full swing by the end of this year with the coverage of more than 800 counties in 31 provincial-level regions across the country. It will also see the establishment of 11 new seedling incubation bases that will set an example for cultivating precursor plants for TCM materials.

Shtip University to provide a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine
macedoniaonline.eu , 22 October 2013

Health Minister Nikola Todorov, who is accompanying President Gjorge Ivanov in a visit to China, met with the leadership of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, agreeing on projects for introduction of TCM in Macedonia. Curricula would be developed at the Shtip University, followed by education of Macedonian doctors in China over the traditional medicine and its methods. They also agreed on training provided by Chinese doctors in Macedonia, as well as visits of Macedonian students at some of the 20 universities for TCM.

Shenyang TCM exports hit $3m
China Daily , 23 October 2013

In the first three quarters of this year, TCM crop exports from Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, hit 322 metric tons, earning $3 million in foreign exchange. The export volume increased by 138.5 % and their value grew 73.4 % year-on-year. The exports include ginseng, pilose asiabell root, golden thread rhizome, and astragalus root. The products are exported to more than 10 countries and regions such as South Korea, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Traditional Chinese Medicine school sought for B.C.
richmondreview.com , 23 October 2013

Officials at Kwantlen Polytechnic University have made a play to bring B.C.’s first school of TCM to Richmond. The B.C. government’s 2013 throne speech promised to partner with a post-secondary institution to develop a center of learning for the historic health profession. Kwantlen is proposing to work with a top TCM school in Beijing, to initially establish a diploma program, with the potential to develop it into a degree program.

PolyU advances scientific studies of traditional Chinese medicine
digitaljournal.com , 28 October 2013

PolyU’s Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology kicked off a research project on the “Authentication of Valuable Chinese Materia Medica” through the State Key Laboratory Incubation Base in its Shenzhen-based research institute. The project aims to establish a feasible system for identifying precious Chinese medicine. Researchers have identified a list of thirty commonly used precious Chinese medicines which are widely used but easily confused. They have collated the findings in a systemic manner for publication in a new book.

Study into Chinese maternal eating habits
voxy.co.nz , 29 October 2013

A Massey University researcher is seeking pregnant Chinese women, including first generation Chinese-New Zealanders, for a study on how living in New Zealand influences their eating habits. The study will investigate what Chinese women eat during pregnancy and their attitudes towards TCM and western nutrition, in particular the types of food recommended during pregnancy. 110 participants will be needed, and will be asked to complete an online questionnaire, written in both English and Mandarin.

Co-operation agreement on Chinese medicine between Hong Kong and Mainland renewed
HKSAR Government , 29 October 2013

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, signed a renewed co-operation agreement on Chinese medicine with the visiting Commissioner of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Professor Wang Guoqiang. Under the new agreement, the two parties will exchange the latest information on Chinese medicine development, including the formulation of relevant strategies, planning, policies and regulations.

Hospital in TCM recall after label mix-up
shanghaidaily.com , 31 October 2013

A TCM hospital has alerted patients after a labelling mix-up. Longhua Hospital is asking patients to check Chuanlian Liqi pills issued between October 8 and 18. Some contain different TCM medicine in similar packing, following an error at the manufacturing plant. Officials said the error was discovered by patients and that the hospital alerted the FDA immediately. Both Chuanlian Liqi and the other medicine, Zhengdekang capsules, are used to aid liver function in cancer patients following chemotherapy. Experts said anyone taking the wrong medicine is unlikely to be severely affected.

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