Public forum on herbal medicine safety May 17

SAN FRANCISCO–Using herbal medicine to cure ailments has been part of the cultural landscape for not just for Asians/Pacific Islanders, but also many in the community at-large.

Herbal medicines have become part of the practice of integrative/alternative medicine that has been growing in popularity over recent years.

Generally classified as a food supplement by the Food and Drug Administration, herbal medicines have not gone through the vigorous requirements and attestations required of drugs. What can we do as a community to ensure the safety in consuming herbal medicines?

A forum featuring seven medical experts who are stakeholders in different areas relating to herbal medicines. Also invited as co-moderated is Mina Li, Public Service Director from KTSF TV-Channel 26.

Due to the special format of the panel and in order to facilitate a smooth flow in the discussion, the forum will be conducted in English, and a summary of the discussion will be presented in Cantonese at the end of the panel.

Date: May 17 (Wednesday)

Time: 5-7 pm

Place: UCSF MZ Campus: Herbst Hall, 1600 Divisadero St., 2nd fl., San Francisco

Panelists:

Prof. Mark Frost – Senior faculty, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the California Institute of Integrative Studies

Dr. Rita Jew – Director of Pharmacy, Mission Bay Campus, UCSF Medical Center

Dr. Richard Ko – Principal, Herbal Synergy – A consulting company specializes in the food and drug regulations in the U.S.

Dr. Amy Li Matecki  – Chief, Division of Integrative Medicine at Highland Hospital, Alameda Health System and a faculty in the Dept. of Medicine, UCSF

Dr. Don Ng – Co-Director of the Division of Internal Medicine, and Chair, Asian Faculty Association, UCSF

Dr. Ho Lam Tsang – An acupuncturist practicing in Petaluma and a board representative from the American Association of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Dr. Chao Zhang – A postdoc TCM scholar at the UCSF Asian Health Institute and lecturer from the College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

To register for class: Call the recording hotline: 415-885-3678 or go online to register here. Space is limited and quickly filling up. RSVP now to reserve space.