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Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM)
American Chinese Medicine Association (ACMA)
Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is a highly specialized professional medicine. To ensure the efficacy and safety of CHM, the qualifications for practicing CHM are as follows: (1) CMD Degree Not all medical degrees are qualified to practice CHM. A Chinese Medicine Doctor (CMD) degree from an accredited College or University of Chinese Medicine in China is required to practice CHM. The professional CMD degree will ensure efficacy and safety in practicing CHM. Other medical degrees lack adequate education and training in CHM, and are not qualified to practice CHM. MD degree issued from Western Medicine medical schools in China is similar to the MD degree issued in the U.S. medical schools, which is not CMD degree, and is not qualified to practice CHM. (2) Medical School Not all medical schools are qualified to issue the CMD degree. The medical schools qualified to issue CMD degree should meet all of the following requirements: (a) The medical schools should be the College or University of Chinese Medicine in China accredited by the China Ministry of Education; (b) The medical schools should be the College or University of Chinese Medicine in China accredited by the China Ministry of Health; (c) The medical schools should be the College or University of Chinese Medicine in China listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) World Directory of Medical Schools. Medical degrees issues from other medical schools are not qualified CMD degree. (3) Program Not all medical programs are qualified to issue the CMD degree. A qualified CMD program should be 6 years long, administered by a Chinese Medicine College or Chinese Medicine University met above requirements listed in (2). Short-term (less than 5 years) CHM training programs are not adequate. Diplomas and/or certificates issued from such CHM training programs are not qualified as CMD degree. CHM theory had been established several thousands years ago. The earliest book available today was a reference type CM book with established CM theory written more than 2000 years ago. Books earlier than 2000 years could not be preserved to today. However, before this reference book, there were many other CM books, which all failed to be preserved to today. Through thousands of years development, CHM has accumulated huge amount of knowledge and has become a very sophisticated and complicated professional natural medicine. CHM is a holistic medicine, which requires a qualified CMD to practice in multiple specialties rather than one specialty. As a result, it is said in China: "It's easier to become a qualified MD, but it's more difficult to become a qualified CMD". Therefore, high standards on the qualifications for the practice of CHM are necessary in order to ensure the efficacy and safety of CHM, to protect patients and the public, as well as to protect the CHM reputation from being damaged by non-qualified practitioners. The differences between qualified CMD and non-qualified CHM practitioners are as follows: (a) Professional CHM The Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) treatment prescribed by qualified CMD is called "professional CHM". It is a professional medicine used to treat diseases (all diseases known to human beings, including HIV/AIDS and cancers, etc.). (b) Over-the-Counter Herbs The herbs given by non-qualified CMD are called "non-professional uses of herbs", or "over-the-counter herbs". They are used as herbal dietary supplements. If CHM is given by non-qualified CMD, serious side effects or deaths may occur. The ephedra event, which had claimed more than 150 American's lives, is an example. For more information on that event, please go to Letter to Congress.
Related links: About Chinese Medicine Doctor (CMD) Education Qualifications to Practice CHM On Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) Unified Medicine Project, Part One Unified Medicine Project, Part Two
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