Popular Chinese remedy doesn't work for knee pain: study
Newsmax.com, 2 July 2015

Researchers from the University of Baltimore and Hong Kong University undertook a trial to find out if Huo-Luo-Xiao-Ling-Dan (HLXL), a popular Chinese herbal medicine used for knee pain is effective. Although patients in the two groups did report improvement, the study found that there was no difference between those who took HLXL and the patients who took the placebo. The study is published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.

Perennial in JV with Guangdong medical group to enter healthcare business in China
Businesstimes.com.sg , 3 July 2015

Perennial Real Estate Holdings has entered into a joint venture with Guangdong Boai Medical Group Co to acquire, develop and manage healthcare services business in China. The upcoming Perennial Dongzhan Mall will be repositioned from a retail mall to an international medical and healthcare hub to cater to the strong domestic demand for healthcare services.

Macao holds World Medicine Summit
Globalpost.com , 7 July 2015

The 2015 World Medicine Summit, co-organized by the Organization Committee for World Medicine Summit and the Macao University of Science and Technology. The three-day summit was attended by more than 40 renowned scientists and scholars worldwide including Chen Zhu, president of the Chinese Medical Association, four Nobel Prize laureates, and six winners of Lasker Award and Gairdner Award.

China focus: popular TCM fungi must be protected
Shanghaidaily.com , 8 July 2015

Caterpillar fungus is used in TCM as a "cure all" ingredient. It is extremely popular and fetches a similar price per gram to gold. About 60% of the fungi is from the northwestern province of Qinghai. In the last 20 years, fungi had retreated from an altitude of 3,500 to 4,500 meters, distribution of the fungi had depleted from 30 to 1.5 stalks per square meter. Experts said something must be done to prevent the fungi from dying out, and are planning to establish a preservation base.

Alibaba's online healthcare business extends losses amid user doubt
CRIENGLISH.com , 9 July 2015

Ali Health reported a loss of over 13 million U.S. dollars for the fiscal year. The company said that the loss was mainly due to the high cost of expanding business. Ali Health began investing in its cloud hospital in 2014, aiming to offer users a one-stop online medical service from diagnosis to follow-up. Potential users have expressed doubts about the service, and there are about 2000 hospital-focused apps in China.

China allows wholly foreign-owned hospitals: a year on
China Briefing , 10 July 2015

Within the next three years alone, healthcare expenditure in China is predicted to increase at 11.8% annually. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission permitted Wholly Foreign Owned Hospitals (WFOH) in seven cities and provinces, but the law remains ambiguous as to specific standards and measures in establishing a foreign hospital. The bureaucratic nature of the WFOH registration process has also stalled the industry's progress.

Confucius Institutes will rise to 500 by the end of this year
Shanghaidaily.com , 13 July 2015

China's Confucius Institute has opened more than 490 branches across the world and plans to increase the number to 500 by the end of this year. Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters Xu Lin said all foreign directors will have to attend training courses in China by the end of the year. The nine-day event, including discussions and field trips, focuses on Chinese folklore, diplomacy, economy and traditional Chinese medicine.

Disciplinary actions taken against TCM physician and acupuncturist
Todayonline.com , 15 July 2015

Singapore, an acupuncturist improperly diagnosed a patient based on an X-ray when she did not have the training to do so, has been fined S$5,000 and censured by the TCM Practitioners Board. Another TCM physician who prescribed and dispensed a western medicine, breaching the TCM Practitioners Act, has been suspended for a month, fined S$4,000 and censured. The Board issued statements to highlight the disciplinary actions meted out against them.

Report warns of adverse effect from TCM injections
Globalpost.com , 17 July 2015

Overall cases of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in 2014 remained on a par with the previous year, but those involving TCM injections had a noted rise, according to a report of China's drug watchdog. Injections took up 60.9% of the total, up 2.2%, TCM injections were responsible for 127,000 ADR cases, up 5.3% year-on-year, the most significant increase across all types of drugs. Among them, 6.7% were severe cases.

Chinese netizens reach out to British boy
Asiaone.com , 18 July 2015

A 5-year-old British boy who suffers from a debilitating form of eczema has captured the hearts of China's netizens, who have been offering advice, money for medical care and TCM treatments. Countless netizens have been commenting on the boy's condition and are carrying out a campaign to help the boy and his family identify solutions for his condition and ways to relieve his pain. He has received global attention and $52,537 (S$71,944) in donations in just two months.

Network pharmacological identification of active compounds and potential actions of Erxian decoction in alleviating menopause-related symptoms
7thspace.com , 18 July 2015

Erxian decoction (EXD) is used to treat menopause-related symptoms in Chinese medicine. A study aims to identify the bioactive compounds and potential actions of EXD by network pharmacological analysis. The results showed that twenty compounds were identified by network pharmacology as potential effective ingredients of EXD for relieving menopause with acceptable oral bioavailability and druggability.

Hyped Japanese medicine 'no different' from domestic products: expert
Ecns.cn , 21 July 2015

Highly hyped Japanese medicine has become a new attraction for Chinese tourists, medical expert said their efficacies are no different from domestic products. Expert admitted that compared to Chinese medicine manufacturers, foreign counterparts follow higher standards and have more sophisticated procedures, but those medicines share the same pharmacology and do not require cutting-edge technology.

Science affirms benefits of Chinese herbs - but not in the way you'd think
Yahoo.com , 27 July 2015

Modern science is increasingly unearthing the health benefits of herbs and plants that have long been used in Chinese medicine. But it's important to note that the benefit revealed by research is rarely something the herb or food was actually used for in its original cultural context. There is very little correlation between the traditional Chinese and the conventional medical understanding of the function and use of these herbs.

Hepatitis B incidence drops in China: official
Shanghaidaily.com , 28 July 2015

The reported incidence of hepatitis B in China has dropped, thanks to China's vaccination-based strategy to control the virus, health official said. Hepatitis prevention and control still face multiple challenges, the country should emphasize innovation and the use of TCM in prevention. A new approach for blood testing has been applied at the blood collection stations to cut HBV spread via transfusion.

Federal government weighs into traditional Chinese medicine testing
Torontosun.com , 31 July 2015

Ontario's requirement, that TCM practitioners take their certification tests in English or French ignores "cultural sensitivities," insists federal Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. He wants Ontario to follow the lead of British Columbia which test in both official languages and in Chinese. The province has given "grandfathered" TCM practitioners who don't speak either official language up to five years to develop their English or French skills.

Ottawa Public Health orders acupuncture clinic to close
Ottawasun.com , 31 July 2015

A clinic once praised in House of Commons has been shut down by city health inspectors as a provincial regulator goes to court to stop a long-time acupuncturist from treating patients. Ottawa Public Health inspectors slapped the clinic with a closure order after documenting lousy hygiene and improper use of needles. Public health gave the clinic time to fix the problems, but it didn't, so shuttered the business.

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