RE: traditional chinese herbs - the Voice

[Guest guest]

Methinks, CHA would be a good voice to establish " authority "

 

A point where the uniformed public could get some answers.

1. Are Chinese herbs/ herbal formulas SAFE.

2. How are they taken.

 

Besides the normal blah-blah of points 1 & 2. The CHA could STAND OUT with

 

3. These products are not safe.

a. list found by California to contain drugs, PC-SPEC et al

b. Phyto-pharmecials. natural herbs that are concentrated and used in such

a way not intended. example Ma Huang Extract.

c. list of herbs / herbal formulas that are contra-indicated or pose

possible health risk when used incorrectly, example ginseng, gan cao, chai

hu ...

 

 

4. List of herbs/ herbal formulas that treat similar conditions but may have

different results

a. Differential Diagnosis and why it is important

 

5. How to know which herb/formula is the right safe one for you.

a. minimum qualifications you should expect of a herbal advisor.

b. Professional standards and guidelines.

 

6. list of patent formulas believed to be safe and may be taken with

confidence when properly prescribed

a. GMP and other standards: WHY

 

7. list of bulk herb suppliers who meet certain minimum standards.

 

8. database of articles

 

9. database of Press Releases and Public Health Announcements

 

Notes: This information is already available. What the function of the CHA

here would be is to establish one-point where that information is available

i.e., a web site. It would fall upon the list moderator to maintain a " above

reproach " approach to the concerns. Not an easy task but a simple one. CHA

is a choice because it is non-political, not economical motivated, has solid

credentials of valuable experts via the newsgroup. Once established CHA

" authority " could be pointed to by the various Acupuncture journals,

associations and web sites. Health food stores, grocery stores, MD, DO, ND,

LAc, could refer to the site for assurances. Downloadable copies could be

easily obtained for a quick reference copy in store or office. Questions and

concerns could be posted on site, moderated and posed to the newsgroup. One

key advantage is that CHA could voice their concerns publicly (on their

website) over concerns of the public safety. For example as was the concern

over PC-SPECS. Public Press Releases could be formulated and distributed

electronically to newspapers, and the media as well as to all concerned.

Because CHA is non-political and already established other associations

could lend their support - by a simple link. As each member of CHA promotes

CHA in their clinical practice the public perception will increase

 

This would be a tremendous undertaking yet virtually free.

 

My suggestion would be adding another section to

http://www..org/public.shtml

 

Adding a complete new section on top of the existing one.

maybe titled Chinese Herbal Medicine WATCHDOG. (or the Voice)

with the mission statement: dedicated to the safety and health of the public

through Chinese herbs.

the nine points listed above would be in the new window on the left

 

that's my 2 cents,

Ed Kasper LAc Santa Cruz, CA