New Chinese medicine law doesn’t discriminate, court rules
Thestar.com, 3 February 2014

A Toronto court has dismissed a constitutional challenge against Ontario’s new law that regulates the traditional Chinese medicine industry. In a decision released, the Ontario Divisional Court ruled that there is no constitutional right to practise a profession. Language fluency requirements are also common to all other health professions in Ontario, the court said, these are not discriminatory requirements. The new College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario currently has 2,000 licensed members.

Traditional Chinese herb protects teeth & gums
HealthCMI, 8 February 2014

A Chinese herb has been proven to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that protect the teeth and gums. Researchers note that the ingredient baicalin, found in Huang Qin, shows promise in periodontal ligament cell based therapy. They concluded that baicalin showed multifaceted regulation of genes with important roles in tissue growth and differentiation, and thus it has the potential to be a promising candidate for HPLC-based periodontal regeneration therapy. The results were published in the Journal of Periodontology.

Chinese delegation to inspect Kenmore plans
Goulburnpost.com.au, 10 February 2014

PLANS for a TCM facility and other associated projects at Kenmore are progressing well, with another delegation visiting the site later this month. Consultant to Kenmore owner LAJC Energy Pty Ltd, Alf Lester told that a high powered delegation consisting of senior officials and interested parties from China will be coming to Australia. They will also be visiting Sydney and Melbourne to find out more about research programs in traditional Chinese medicine at universities.

Baptist University chief still ready to quit if hospital site is used for flats
Scmp.com, 11 February 2014

Baptist University's president repeated his vow to step down if a site in Kowloon Tong identified for the university's TCM hospital is instead used for luxury flats. Professor Albert Chan Sun-chi also questioned the government's planned TCM hospital in Tseung Kwan O. He said the proposal would not serve the same educational purpose as the hospital his university plans. Chan said the university would put to the board a new plan including a student activity building along with the hospital and 1700-bed dormitory.

Quality of acupuncture needles is less than perfect and must improve
Medicalxpress.com, 12 February 2014

The quality of acupuncture needles should be universally improved published online Acupuncture in Medicine (AiM). A team of researchers in Australia looked at the conditions of two popular needle brands. The images revealed significant surface irregularities and inconsistencies at the needle tips, metallic lumps and small, loosely attached pieces of material were observed on the surfaces of some needles too. Acupuncture needle manufacturers including the well-established ones should review and improve their quality control procedures for fabrication of needles they conclude.

Activists ask China to ban bear bile farming
Globalvoicesonline.org, 13 February 2014

Using social media and other tools, animal rights activists around the world are urging China to prohibit farmers from keeping bears in captivity and harvesting their bile. Animals Asia has collected more than 83,000 signatures so far on a petition asking Chinese officials to end the “barbaric practice” of bear bile farming. The cause has resonated on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking platforms with both individuals, including artists and athletes, and groups like Moon Bear Rescue.

Traditional Chinese massage for children
China Daily, 17 February 2014

What will you do if your kid doesn't want to eat or wakes up a lot at night? Some parents may rush to a pediatrician, while for many Chinese, the answer is a traditional Chinese massage therapist. A famous TCM pediatrics said children have immature internal systems, which are often the cause of common childhood ailments such as constipation, cough and dermatitis, massage techniques can help restore harmony and promote health.

American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine chosen as featured Nickels for Non Profit Recipient
Digitaljournal.com, 17 February 2014

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been selected by Whole Foods Potrero Hill to be one of the featured Nickels for Non Profit recipients. The grant will support “Celebrating National Herb Week 2014 - ACTCM Herb Garden Community Outreach Project.” ACTCM will offers public educational tours and programs on herbal medicine and nutrition. The garden is a living educational resource for both ACTCM and the general public with abundant healing herbs from around the world, and is maintained solely by student volunteers and donations from the community.

QBE insures 3,000 TCM practitioners
Theborneopost.com, 19 February 2014

QBE Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Acupuncturists Association. The MoU will see all 3,000 members of the association being insured for either RM250,000 or RM500,000 in Professional Indemnity. QBE’s maximum protection of various categories of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners such as in acupuncture, chiropractic, orthopedic, reflexology, naturopathy, Qi Gong and Tuina.

Tibetan medicine aims for UNESCO approval
English.news.cn, 19 February 2014

The process of inscribing Tibetan medicine on UNESCO's intangible heritage list began as the Ministry of Culture received relevant materials from the region. The process began in 2013 when experts from Tibet, Qinghai and Sichuan formed an application committee. The materials, including paperwork and videos, will be submitted along with applications from other provinces to UNESCO for consideration. Tibet had listed the Epic of King Gesarn, Regong arts, and Tibetan Opera in 2009.

TCM warning for travelers to US
Global Times, 20 February 2014

Experts warn Chinese citizens traveling to the US to be careful with their TCM products. Two Chinese were deported in Los Angeles and were barred from entering the US for the next 5 years after trying to bring in Compound Liquorice Tablets, a TCM cough remedy that allegedly contained cocaine. Drugs with “a high potential for abuse” cannot be imported into the US. Tourists can only carry enough for personal use with a prescription if they need those drugs, and are required to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service beforehand if they carry any parts or products from wild animals.

Preserving the natural resources and culture of Chinese herbal medicine
Acupuncture Today, 20 February 2014

Preservation the natural resource of Chinese medicine has increasingly been a concern. Practitioners are frequently asked by patients or read media reports about pesticides, contaminants, and endangered species in the Chinese medicine industry, which too often lead them to an awkward situation. By better understanding where the herbs come from, they can proper communicate with their patients about important questions related to herbal safety and ecology.

China pharmaceutical industry sees steady growth
English.eastday.com, 23 February 2014

China's pharmaceutical industry, despite the challenges resulted from sluggish economies in the European Union and United States, has managed steady growth in 2013, official data showed. Main business revenues in the industry amounted to 2.17 trillion yuan (355.4 billion U.S. dollars) last year, 17.9% increased. The pharmaceutical industry saw profits rise 17.6% to 219.7 billion yuan last year, with fast growth seen in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Acupuncture calms anxiety disorder
HealthCMI, 23 February 2014

A recent study concludes that acupuncture relieves generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), special acupuncture points have been shown to relieve anxiety and produce tranquilizing outcomes. A trend towards increased usage of acupuncture for GAD is partially due to the risk of side effects from drug therapy. The researchers make the conclusions based on meta-analyses and biomedically based studies and also give a detailed TCM theoretical and practical analysis of acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

University president sacked for taking bribes
English.news.cn, 24 February 2014

President of a university in China's Sichuan Province was thrown out of office for “taking a huge amount of property”, the provincial discipline watchdog said. Fan Xinjian, also former deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) committee of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been expelled from the Party, the CPC provincial discipline inspectors said.

Chinese acupuncture needles internationally standardized
Xinhua, 25 February 2014

Needles used in Chinese traditional acupuncture have been internationally standardized, which have been set for texture, diameter, length, hardness and elasticity of the disposable needle. It is the first standard set by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) for the traditional medicine, said Shen Yuandong, secretary-general of traditional Chinese medicine technical committee under the ISO. Acupuncture was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2010.

Hengqin hope
Macaubusinessdaily.com, 26 February 2014

Massachusetts General Hospital, the Harvard Medical School teaching hospital in the United States, intends to set up a branch on Hengqin Island. A spokesperson for the prospective partner, the state-run Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, confirmed and said they would take part in the management of the branch hospital but the details are still under discussion. Construction of a second public hospital near the Macau Dome in Cotai is due to finish in 2019.

Building an evidence base for herbal medicine
Phys.org, 26 February 2014

Data Analytics for Traditional Chinese Medicine Research addresses issues surrounding TCM and their use in a western clinical setting. University of Sydney's Dr Josiah Poon, editor of the book said as worldwide interest in integrative medicine increases so too do the calls for evidence of its legitimacy. From the perspective of a researcher, we wanted to demonstrate how you can make use of machine learning, data mining, statistics and other analytic techniques to resolve research challenges.

Bayer AG (BAYN.DE) buys Dihon Pharmaceutical Group for about $680 million to add TCM to product line
Biospace.com, 27 February 2014

Bayer said it would buy privately held Dihon Pharmaceutical Group Co, a maker of traditional herbal Chinese medicines. With China's healthcare spending forecast to nearly triple to $1 trillion by 2020, the country is a magnet for makers of medicines and medical equipment, but many patients remain strongly attached to traditional approaches. “What's growing the most within Chinese healthcare is traditional medicine. It's a strong part of their culture,” said a healthcare analyst.

Chinese medicine could hold key to treating inflammatory illnesses
Yorkshirepost.co.uk, 28 February 2014

Traditional Chinese medicine could hold key to tackling common inflammatory condition. The discovery by experts at Sheffield University could lead to the creation of drugs for largely incurable conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), using an ingredient found in TCM which has inflammation-reducing capabilities. By screening drugs in zebrafish, researchers found the compound which they say is a completely new way to treat it.

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