The concept of real-world studies (RWS) has emerged in recent years and differs from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in design and implementation. The importance of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in the context of medical and health decision-making is rising. This is relevant for the many and diverse medical traditions globally. RWS can bring new ideas and methodologies for clinical efficacy and safety evaluation of different specific preparations used in a Traditional Medicine (TM) and allow a high-quality assessment of the evidence for specific uses of such preparations. TM, including Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Traditional European Medicine (TEM) or Traditional Indian Medicines (TIM) as well as interventions using herbal medicines or natural products such as dietary fibre are all examples of practices which can benefit from RWS. For example, TCM is a unique form of medical practice based on a complex philosophy as well as on real-world clinical experience and evidence. RWE is essential for understanding the evidence one can derive from the outcomes of medical practice. It is of particular interest for understanding TCM diagnosis and treatment. In addition, there is potential for real-world traditional medical therapies based on other cultural and philosophical principles (natural products or herbal medicines). Currently, RWS is mostly utilized for evaluation the clinical efficacy of Traditional medicine (TM) treatments, including post-marketing re-evaluation of new medications or traditional classical prescriptions, as well as TM-related mechanistic research.

The "First International Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine: Science, Regulation and Globalization" was held from August 30 to September 2, 2000 at the University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland. There were approximately 250 participants from the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States. This objective of this conference was to promote international collaboration for the modernization of Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCM) and their introduction into the global health care system. It was mainly sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China and the NllI National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). It was organized by Dr. William Tai, then director of the Institute of Global Chinese Affairs at the University of Maryland and Dr. Yuan Lin, president of Marco Polo Technologies, Bethesda, MD. This conference was conceived by Dr. Tai two years earlier recognizing that this was an appropriate time and also the unique location of the University of Maryland. Today, there is a growing recognition of the of alternative medicine in modem societies and the rapid loss of importance knowledge about traditional methods for the treatment of the multitude of human illnesses found throughout the world. TCM has been in common use in China for thousands of years; and many of its formulations are well defined.

The global popularity of herbal supplements and the promise they hold in treating various disease states has caused an unprecedented interest in understanding the molecular basis of the biological activity of traditional remedies. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects focuses on presenting current scientific evidence of biomolecular ef

This work presents up-to-date information on chemical, pharmacological, clinical studies and historical uses of common dietary Chinese herbs. Authored by native experts in the field, the reader is introduced to each herb with a brief chronological review of Chinese literature on dietary herb uses, with chapters dedicated to each selected herb including color photos for each herb. In addition, Chinese characters as well as the Latin botanical name indices, and chemical structures for the known active compounds are also provided. The clear layout examines the health benefits that have been studied for centuries, including current clinical and toxicological data. A wide range of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs are investigated for their suitability into daily diets for maintaining general wellness or disease prevention. In the past decades, natural health products, dietary supplements, functional foods, or nutraceuticals have emerged in the West due to the increasing demand for non-pharmaceutical healthcare products. Traditional Chinese Medicine disease prevention and treatment incorporates the use of foods, and herbal medicine in an integrated manner, and thus the dietary Chinese herbs in used in TCM for thousands of years could be sources for developing new, effective, and safe ingredients to capture the rapidly expanding opportunity in the global market place.

Chinese and Botanical Medicines: Traditional Uses and Modern Scientific Approaches is a classroom-tested book that contains a balance of chemistry, the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the theory and practice of a modern TCM practitioner. This distinct book reviews the scientific methods for collecting data and supporting evidence for the efficacy and safety of Chinese drugs and medicines. It also reflects on the different views on health, disease and therapy, and their impacts on the relationships between man and nature.

The Second Edition of this book is a rearranged and enriched version of the previous edition, composed of feedback and constructive comments from readers. Acupuncture is the most popular form of treatment in Chinese medicine. The theories and practice of acupuncture have been revised and rewritten to give readers a clear idea of how it works and when it is to be utilized. Botanicals, i.e. herbal medicine, form the major core of Chinese medicine practice. The potential of botanicals development is wide: from casting specific biological activities to preventive uses. Three new chapters are offered: (i) for the understanding of the biological activities of herbal medicine, (ii) the products produced from herbs for specific needs, and (iii) the individual's choice for what may suit him/her best. In this present era of information technology, readers should be guided on the use of the Internet and related areas in order to independently secure information for personal use and research needs. The last chapter is provided for this practical purpose.Since the publication of the First Edition, much development has occurred in the field of Chinese medicine. All the chapters have been updated and revised accordingly so that general readers, those looking for effective treatment, as well as those who want to serve their patients better, can have a reliable comprehensive reference.

Based on careful analysis of burden of disease and the costs ofinterventions, this second edition of 'Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition' highlights achievable priorities; measures progresstoward providing efficient, equitable care; promotes cost-effectiveinterventions to targeted populations; and encourages integrated effortsto optimize health. Nearly 500 experts - scientists, epidemiologists, health economists,academicians, and public health practitioners - from around the worldcontributed to the data sources and methodologies, and identifiedchallenges and priorities, resulting in this integrated, comprehensivereference volume on the state of health in developing countries.

This title was first published in 2003. In laboratories around the world the active principles in traditional herbal medicines are being isolated and characterized. A systematic effort at the Chinese Academy of Sciences is underway to identify the structure-activity relationships that result from the link between chemistry and medicine that is permitted by this data. This book, which provides the only systematic English-language description of the chemical structures and pharmacological effects of compounds active in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), is now in its second edition. The new edition provides English-language monographs on over 9000 chemicals isolated from nearly 4000 natural sources used in Chinese medicine and features the addition of in-depth bioactivity data for many of the compounds. Effects and indications of the medicines are included. Extensive indexing permits cross-referencing among English, Chinese and Latin names for natural medicinal sources, effects and indications, and the chemical components of the medicines. The second edition of Traditional Chinese Medicines includes 2300 new compounds, 2400 additional plant sources, more CAS Registry Numbers, and more pharmacological data. The structure of the book has been extensively reorganised to make cross referencing the data much simpler. This new edition is therefore a substantial improvement on the first edition of this important reference on the structural chemistry of traditional Chinese medicines.

This report is structured in five parts: national framework for traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM); product regulation; practices and practitioners; the challenges faced by countries; and finally the country profiles. Apart from the section on practices and practitioners the report is consistent with the format of the report of the first global survey in order to provide a useful comparison. The section on practices and practitioners which covers providers education and health insurance is a new section incorporated to reflect the emerging trends in T&CM and to gather new information regarding these topics at a national level. All new information received has been incorporated into individual country profiles and data graphs. The report captures the three phases of progress made by Member States; that is before and after the first WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy (1999?2005) from the first global survey to the second global survey (2005?2012) and from the second survey to the most recent timeline (2012?2018).

Phytotherapy or herbal medicine is the most important therapy within Chinese medicine and is being used increasingly in the West. A Materia Medica for Chinese Medicine: plants, minerals and animal products describes 400 of the most important plants, minerals and animal substances used as treatments by Chinese medical practitioners. The items included have been selected according to their degree of clinical relevance. Each remedy is clearly described and illustrated on two facing pages, making this an easily accessible reference for both students and practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine. The clearly laid out text presents the following details for each herb or substance included: a detailed description of the characteristic features indictions for safe use medicinal and toxic effects possible combinations with other substances full-colour illustrations, generally two for each substance, showing the detailed characterisitcs of the item described A Materia Medica for Chinese Medicine has been written by two medically trained doctors who have worked as TCM therapists specializing in the use of Chinese herbs for more than 30 years. Based on their many years of teaching and practice, the book has been carefully compiled and designed to provide a concise and accurate practice-based reference for both students and practitioners.