AAOM responds to Action on Ephedra Ban

[Guest guest]

Judy,

 

If you are a member of AAOM, you will already have received their

message beginning with:

 

" Greetings!

 

The goal of the American Association of Oriental Medicine is that

Chinese medicine herbal formulas, including those containing ephedra,

continue to be available to practitioners and their patients.

 

 

FDA's final regulation finding dietary supplements containing

ephedrine alkaloids to be adulterated says it does not affect the use

of ephedra preparations in traditional Asian medicines. This direct,

unambiguous statement supports our goals. Indeed, this is the very

result recommended by the AAOM in response to the FDA's earlier

request for comments. AAOM considers this a positive development and

recognition that the FDA is aware of the needs of our medicine.

 

The regulation also says that products typically used by Asian

medicine practitioners are not marketed as dietary supplements. "

 

The rest, which asks important questions, can be read at their site.

 

Respectfully,

Emmanuel Segmen

 

 

 

 

Chinese Medicine , " Emmanuel

Segmen " <susegmen@i...> wrote:

> Thank you, Judy,

>

> Yes, I've had copies of those bills for some time, and I hope

everyone takes a moment to read them. I've read them and then

discussed them with my federal representatives in the House and

Senate, the AHPA director and with the F.D.A.'s head of dietary

supplements. That's why I made my comments to which you refer

below. The bills restrict the dietary supplements act regarding any

amount of ephedrine ... to include ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and

associated molecules. The same wording is used here in California.

Many people who write legal code tend to copy existing legal code.

>

> My company and other California companies both import and sell ma

huang and ban xia under that legal code at this time. I am

registered with the FDA both as an importer and as an agent for the

agronomists in China from whom I import. The FDA and I are getting

along quite well with ma huang and ban xia at this time. I am not in

any way an advocate for the FDA ... nor do I have a hostile nor an

adversarial relationship with them. They are in the executive branch

of government. I am in the business part of Chinese herbal

medicine. I know very well they were created by the political

actions of the A.M.A. I know that the F.D.A. is mandated to look out

for the interests of " big pharm " , so to speak.

>

> Nevertheless, I have to communicate with the F.D.A. quite regularly

in my everyday work. I also communicate by email directly with the

head of the dietary supplements division, Robert Moore. We discuss

our issues. Sometimes we even agree. Often we don't. Occasionally

he tells me things months later that I told him months earlier. I

try not to appear overly pleased when that happens ... but it is

gratifying. I do my very best to help Mr. Moore see the views of

people in Chinese herbal medicine. From what I can tell, you're

interests, Judy, and my interests are fairly parallel and congruent.

I am strongly engaged in this issue both with my federal

representatives as well as directly with the F.D.A. I hope that

others work closely with their representatives as well.

>

> Respectfully,

> Emmanuel Segmen