law has never been tested in the courts – the wider concerns about the
lack of regulation of herbal medicines have put this issue in the
spotlight and it is clearly desirable to put this part of the materia
medica onto a secure legal footing. The herbal community is therefore
pressing for an extension of the licensing exemptions to non-plant
medicines.Licensing of TCMs in Australia
Chinese herbal products in Australia are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA) and need to meet quality and safety standards.
Evidence
There is research that has demonstrated the usefulness of CHM in many
disorders^156 and supports its provision in state hospitals throughout China,
alongside conventional medicine. It is suggested that, although the research
is of variable quality, it should not be ignored.^157 Some promising trials have
been carried out in the west.158,159Standardised oral herbal preparations that
are monitored in a conventional western manner have been shown to be
beneficial in eczema.^160 CHM may also be effective in the treatment of
primary dysmenorrhoea.^164
Other applications that have been studied include atopic dermatitis
and the treatment of side effects associated with chemotherapy treatment.
Atopic dermatitis
A twice-daily concoction of an ancestral formula containing five herbs
(CHM) was assessed as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD).^161 After a
2-week run-in period, children with long-standing, moderate-to-severe AD
were randomised to receive a 12-week treatment with twice-daily dosing of
three capsules of either traditional CHM or placebo. The SCORing of
Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score, Children’s Dermatology Life Quality
Index (CDLQI), allergic rhinitis score, and requirement for topical
corticosteroid and oral antihistamine were assessed before and at weeks 4,
8, 12 and 16 after treatment. Adverse events, tolerability, and haemato-
logical and biochemical parameters were monitored during the study. The
CHM concoction was found to be efficacious in improving quality of life
and reducing topical corticosteroid use in children with moderate-to-severe
AD. The formulation was palatable and well tolerated.
Treatment of side effects associated with chemotherapy treatment
Short-term side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, nausea, vomiting,
mucositis, and myelosuppression or neutropenia. These occur during the
course of treatment and generally resolve within months of completion of
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