صفحه 1:
صفحه 2:
Chinese Herbal
Medicines:
The Good, the Bad, and the
Ugly
Michael H. Dong
MPH, DrPA, PhD
with
Jennifer I. Dong
صفحه 3:
Learning Objectives
11 To understand how Chinese
herbal medicines (CHM) are used
worldwide.
2 To familiarize the students with
some of the negative aspects of CHM.
3. To learn the additional beneficial
effects of CHM.
A. To gain insight into the
controversies surrounding the use of
CHM.
صفحه 4:
Performance Objectives
1: Be able to characterize the basics
of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM).
2 Be able to identify some of the
adverse cases associated with the use
of CHM
3. Know the basic properties of the
major class of Chinese herbs.
4. Know the factors that continue to
make CHM unacceptable to many
people.
Bs Know how to use some of the
resources for advancing CHM.
صفحه 5:
Contents of Lecture
1. A brief introduction of how
Chinese herbal medicines (CHM)
are used worldwide.
2. Toxicological or side effects of
CHM.
3. Beneficial effects on health
prevention and health maintenance.
A. Controversies over the use of
CHM.
5. Resources for advancing CHM.
صفحه 6:
Traditional Chinese Medicine
۰ Has been practiced for many
centuries.
Uses holistic concepts and elements
of natural energies to restore bod:
homeo-stasis and hence to treat the
disease.
Relies principally on acupuncture and
herbal drugs to restore patients’
health.
Chinese herbs include plant, animal,
and mineral substances.
Recently has increasingly found its
way into Western medicine.
صفحه 7:
Use of Chinese Herbal
Medicines (CHM) in the
USA
* Use of CHM has soared in the USA
since the passage of a law in 1994.
* Many CHM are now treated as dietary
supplements, thus not subject to any
stringent health regulation.
¢ Millions of Americans are now taking
Chinese herbal products.
* Not enough Congressional support to
ao current regulations on
صفحه 8:
_ Use of Chinese Herbs in >
Europe and Australia
* Europe takes half of the global
market for herbal medicines (HM)
in 1996.
* Use in Europe largely based on rule
of historical use as evidence of herb
safety.
* European governments are more
۳ active in regulating the use of
M.
° Australia requires registration of
practitioners as a means to regulate
the dispensing of Chinese herbs.
صفحه 9:
Use of Chinese Herbs in
Hong Kong and China
*Hong Kong has enacted an
ordinance and established a
council to regulate the use of
Chinese medicines.
¢ China revised the Pharmaceutical
(Administration) Law requiring
drug manufacturers to obtain good
manufacturing practice
certification.
*China’s law exempts Chinese herbs
from following the new standards.
صفحه 10:
Ways in Which Chinese
Herbs Are Used
*Countless numbers of remedies have
been prepared from a small fraction
of approximately 6,000 Chinese
herbs.
* Used to treat the whole body with a
focus on one or more body organs,
but based primarily on holistic
concepts.
* Herbal formulas are used to
mitigate the toxic effects of some
herbs.
صفحه 11:
Negative Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (I)
* Poisonings from misuse of Chinese
herbs do occur from time to time.
¢ Misuse can also lead to acute or
long-term adverse effects.
* Chinese herbal products can be
contaminated with heavy metals.
¢ Extensive clinical trials on (long-
term) side effects are not well
documented.
صفحه 12:
Negative Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (II)
¢ Drug adulterations or drug
interactions are found in some
Chinese herbal medicines (CHM).
* Misleading labels can also be
problems with CHM sold over the
counter.
* Unapproved ingredients and heavy
metals can be introduced during
the formulation or cultivation of
herbs.
صفحه 13:
Negative Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (III)
* More than 50 cases of kidney
damage have been linked to
Chinese herbs added to slimming
capsules.
* Several cases of liver problems
have been linked to Chinese herbs
used for skin conditions.
٠١ Acute hepatitis has been linked to
some Chinese herbal products
used for eczema or psoriasis.
صفحه 14:
Negative Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (IV)
*Some Chinese herbs are found to
have caused cardiac adverse
reactions and pneumonitis.
¢ At least one herb was considered
to be carcinogenic; another one
was reported to increase risk of
bleeding when used concomitantly
with the drug warfarin.
*Some others are known to cause
allergic reactions.
صفحه 15:
Positive Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (1)
* Many Chinese herbs contain a
variety of vitamins or minerals and
hence can be used as dietary
supplements.
¢* Those herbs that are antioxidants
can alleviate or prevent various
disorders.
* Herbs cooked with food are highly
digestible, assimilable, extremely
nutritious, and sometimes delicious.
صفحه 16:
Positive Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (II)
۰ ۸ majority of Chinese herbs are
famous for providing body
strength and energy.
¢ These tonic herbs are super-
nutrients with an ability to
enhance body functions.
¢ They have anti-aging functions
with no known adverse effects
when used properly; and are easily
digestible.
صفحه 17:
Positive Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (III)
* As an example, ginseng is a classic
tonic herb used to enhance
endurance.
¢ The plant contains chemicals
capable of nourishing and regulating
the nervous and endocrine
(hormonal) systems.
* Ginseng may arouse sexual desire,
even though long-term use of this
plant could lead to some adverse
effects.
صفحه 18:
Positive Aspects of
Chinese Herbs (IV)
¢Tang kuei is another classic tonic
herb used for centuries to build
blood.
¢ The herb can be used to alleviate
pre-menstrual symptoms, muscular
aches, and bowel movements.
¢*A number of Chinese athletes
regularly consume tonic herbs to
supplement their stringent
training regimen.
صفحه 19:
The Ugly Side of
Chinese Herbs (1)
* Some herbs have an unpleasant
smell and a very bitter taste.
* Stories are rarely reported on
positive experiences with use of
Chinese herbal medicines (CHM).
* Disbelievers of traditional
Chinese medicine are skeptical
about the merits of CHM and have
no room for therapy based on
holistic concepts.
صفحه 20:
The Ugly Side of Chinese
Herbs (ID
° There are controversies over the
use of some Chinese herbs, adding
greater discomfort for disbelievers.
¢ As an example, ginseng is said to
have many faces regarding its
effects.
. Adequate standards and processes
are not in place to guarantee the
claimed effects and quality of
Chinese herbs.
صفحه 21:
Institutes for Advancing
Chinese Herbal Medicine (1)
¢ Over a hundred of traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM) institutes are located
worldwide, with > 50% in the USA.
¢ Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a
key branch of TCM; students thus may
receive CHM training in these
institutes.
¢ These institutes often take a
leadership role in advancing CHM
through joint programs and scientific
conferences.
صفحه 22:
Institutes for Advancing
Chinese Herbal Medicine (II)
* Institutes located in Asia are fewer than
50, with expectedly the majority in
China.
* One institute in Beijing has compiled
the English-Chinese Textbook Series in
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
¢ The university in Shanghai is one of the
leading institutions in the world for
TCM.
* The university in Nanjing is known as
the birthplace of the earliest TCM
scholars.
صفحه 23:
Institutes for Advancing
Chinese Herbal Medicine (III)
٠ سآ Hong Kong, research into the effects
of Chinese herbs is an ongoing activity
at several local universities.
* Some of these local universities also
offer degree programs in Chinese
medicine.
* These educational and research
programs all point to the direction that
Chinese medicine should be used as an
alternative or a supplement to Western
medicine.