Summary Report
The Chinese Herbal Medicine Conference 2013 — Beijing
This conference was convened by the Chinese Medicine Speciality Committee on 2nd – 3rd October, 2013.
At the conference, Professor Mei was re-elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Medicine Speciality Committee.
This conference is an annual event in which updates are delivered on the latest research in Chinese herbal medicine and clinical developments taking place in China. Reports on this field were also delivered from around the world.
In addition to the re-election of the officers, this year’s main discussion was centred on the research of herbal formulations for various kinds of diseases currently prevailing in China. The list of conditions includes diseases of the lungs and the respiratory system; metabolic syndrome-related diseases as well as diseases related to the immune system such as cancer and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). For instance, in a recent examination of the 5,000 hospitals in China, superbugs were discovered in two out of the 37 hospitals surveyed in the south.
China is placing its emphasis on an integrative approach that combines Chinese medicine and Western medicine in order to resolve the immense health burdens of an ageing population. This resolve was highlighted by President Xi in his recent meeting with the WHO’s Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan when he emphasised development of Chinese medicine in other countries as the model worthy of serious consideration.
The 3rd World Education Congress of Chinese Medicine — Nanjing
Professor Mei attended the Chinese medicine education conference convened by the Education Instruction Committee on 8th-10th November 2013.
The agenda of this conference was to approve the content and the core curriculum of Chinese medicine and acupuncture education internationally. The aim is to harmonise the standards in China as well as around the world by using a more unified syllabus. A standardised textbook is being compiled by the Education Instruction Committee in which Professor Mei is also a Vice-Chairman.
During the conference Professor Mei was appointed as one of the vice editors of the international edition of the undergraduate textbook of Chinese medicine.
Prominent professors in China such as Professor Ye Zhu Guang, Professor Long Zhi Xian and Professor Zhang Boli all presented papers at the Chinese Herbal Medicine Conference and at the World Education Congress of Chinese Medicine.
Presentation by Professor Dame Sally Davies (Chief Medical Officer) at the House of Commons — London
At this meeting organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Integrated Healthcare on 22nd October Dame Sally, UK Chief Medical Officer, made a passionate presentation in which she highlighted the crisis threatened by the rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The meeting was chaired by Right Hon. David Tredinnick MP (Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group).
Professor Mei presented the advantages of using Chinese medicine and acupuncture as one of the solutions to the crisis. In response, Dame Sally explained how she was impressed by Chinese medicine during her visit to China and particularly with the contribution of artemisinin (Qinghaosu, an extract from Chinese herbal medicine) in the treatment of malaria.
She also highlighted, however, the concern for safety of Chinese medicine practice in the UK. Professor Mei reiterated the urgent need for regulation and the inclusion of Chinese medicine and acupuncture within the mainstream medical services in this country.
Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Presentations from King’s College London’s Medical Students — AcuMedic Centre, London
As the Principal Lecturer of the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Student Selected Component (SSC) organised by AcuMedic Foundation for medical students at King’s College London, Professor Mei marked the students’ oral presentations as part of their final examinations and awarded commendations for the top three students. The presentations took place at the AcuMedic Centre on 5th December 2013.
Once again, the quality of the work delivered by students this year has been exceptionally high. Presentations covered a vast range of topics across the field of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, including Chinese cosmetology, moxibustion, Tai Chi and Qi Gong and the electrical nature of acupoints. The students’ passion for Chinese medicine and acupuncture not only as a viable, but indispensible, medical tool was clearly evident throughout their presentations.
This module has been designed to broadly introduce undergraduate medical students to the theories, diagnostics and treatment protocols of Chinese medicine and is based on the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine postgraduate diploma course provided by the Chinese Medical Institute and Register in collaboration with the AcuMedic Foundation. Through a balanced use of lectures, practical sessions and clinical case studies the module encourages students to use an evidence based approach and discuss traditional philosophies.
Professor Mei is also teaching Chinese medicine and acupuncture to medical students from St. George’s, University of London.