Australian forum explores rise of herbal medicine

RMIT University is set to host a panel of complementary medicine experts at a forum discussing the popularity of herbal medicine and its role in contemporary healthcare next month.

The free biotechnology forum, titled ‘Herbal Medicine – What is its role in healthcare?’, will cover topics including assuring the safety and effectiveness of herbal remedies, integrating herbal medicine into mainstream healthcare, new drugs to treat disease from traditional herbal formula, and opportunities for economic development to meet the international demand for safe, high quality effective herbal therapeutic products.

Head of RMIT’s Division of Chinese Medicine and panel member, Associate Professor Charlie Xue, said that while the popularity of herbal medicine was increasing in most western countries, its role in contemporary health care systems was not yet properly defined.

“Broader treatment choices and diversity may have advantages but critical issues relating to safety, quality and effectiveness must be addressed,” Associate Professor Xue said. He said that Australia was well placed to take a leading role in tackling these issues and exploring the options available.

Other panel members will include the Director of the CSIRO Flagship Program on Preventative Health, Dr Richard Head; Monash University Alfred Hospital Department of Medicine’s Associate Professor Paul Komesaroff; and Senior Policy Advisor on Complementary Medicine in the Victorian Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Dr Daphne Thompson.