notices from AOMalliance

[Guest guest]

REQUEST FOR SUPPORT

 

Whom It May Concern June 18, 2004

AOMAlliance Board

Re: Request for Funding Support for an AOMAlliance Representative to

Attend a National Herbal Strategy Meeting

 

At the recently completed national meetings held in May at the

AOMAlliance conference in Hollywood, the major AOM organizations in

cooperation with AHPA decided it was very important to hold a special

congress in late summer to address the concerns the profession has with

the FDA banning of ephedra products. The AOM profession is worried that

other Chinese herbal medicines will be next (as the FDA is looking at

ephedra-like products). Although, Chinese herbal medicines that

include ephedra constitutes a very small percentage of overall use, it

is regulated under DSHEA and there is no distinction based on who the

seller is (there are requirements for manufacturers, but that's a

different issue) or what it's used for. Therefore, it's not like an

exception to the ban can be made for Oriental medicine practitioners.

 

There are no easy answers to the conundrum that DSHEA presents to our

practitioners who use and dispense these products legitimately. The

impetus to form this group arose out of many discussions at the

national meetings based on concerns people have about the banning of

ephedra and the future of herbal medicine in this country. There are a

growing number of people in Congress who want to make changes to DSHEA,

and the idea is to start working on a substantive proposal that would

perhaps pre-empt any actions that would further restrict access to

herbal products. Assuring public safety has to be an important part of

the equation in order for us to be successful, so we will be developing

a strategy/proposal for the regulation of herbal products that both

strives to assure access to products and yet addresses concerns about

safety and misuse. This strategic paper would be circulated within the

profession before final submission to the legislators.

 

The initial meeting is planned for July or August, to be held most

likely in Austin, Texas. All representatives must fund their own way.

As the AOMAlliance board members are volunteers, we are asking the

profession to step up and help the AOMAlliance defray costs for sending

a representative. If you feel you or your organization can help with

this important effort, please contact Dr. Michael McCoy at the

AOMAlliance office (253) 851-6896 or mail your contributions to:

AOMAlliance, 6405 43rd Ave., Ct. N.W. Ste B, NW Gig Harbor, WN 98335.

Any amount will be appreciated and will be recognized in the upcoming

Forum. It is estimated that $1000 is the minimum cost for the two or

three day meeting for one representative.

 

If you need more information, please let me know. Thank you for any

consideration you can provide to support an AOMAlliance representative

at this important meeting.

 

Dr. Tom Haines, Board Member

AOMAlliance

 

Press Release

 

For Immediate Distribution: June 28, 2004

 

Gig Harbor, WA

 

AOMALLIANCE Annual Conference Promotes Herbal Congress

 

A   " Congress on Traditional Herbal Medicine " has been formed to develop

legislation to assure access to traditional medicinal substances while

promoting public safety.   The idea for the " Congress " emerged during

the May AOM Alliance Conference, during a presentation by the president

of AHPA, the American Herbal Products Association.  In addition to the

Alliance and AHPA, the group now includes the NCCAOM, AAOM, CCAOM, the

Medicinal Herb Consortium, the American Association of Naturopathic

Physicians, and an ayurvedic organization.  This historic coalition

of groups is planning a meeting to develop a legislative proposal. 

 

" Working together, this group has a greater chance of success than any

individual group working alone " , said McCoy, Executive Director of the

Alliance.  " With the FDA banning ephedra products, we are worried that

other Chinese herbal medicines will be next (and the FDA is looking at

ephedra-like products).  There are no easy answers to the conundrum

that DSHEA presents to our practitioners who use and dispense these

products legitimately, so its important that we take the initiative in

finding a solution. "

 

AOMALLIANCE invites support and endorsement of this initiative from the

broad Oriental Medicine community. For further information, please

contact Dr. Michael R. McCoy, Executive Director of AOMALLIANCE.

Contact information: director or 253 851-6896.

 

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The Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance is a national

organization of acupuncture practitioners, and other interested

persons. It has an active membership of nearly a thousand health care

providers and consumers, as well as students, colleges, and vendors who

support acupuncture and Oriental medicine. The Alliance is a 501© (4)

public welfare organization committed to putting patients first by

allowing access to appropriate healthcare, and is dedicated to assuring

freedom to practice, based on standards of competency.

 

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

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