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Many Americans, not completely satisfied with traditional western medicine, have turned to alternative and complementary medicine which explains the increasing popularity of the herbal products and the Chinese herbal medicine. The lack of government regulations and the increasing advertisements by the manufactures have created an impression to the common public that the natural herbal remedies are inherently safer and cheaper than conventional medicine. The skyrocketing rise of healthcare cost and the adverse reaction and side effects incurred from the prescribed drugs have both reinforced such an impression. Herbs in the USA and in many European countries have been prepared as capsules, tablets, teas, lozenges, juice extracts, tincture, and ointments. Most of the herbs are administered as a single herb in the USA and Europe. However, the traditional Chinese herbal medicine contains multiple active ingredients from various herbs and is prepared as concoctions by simmering them for hours to produce pharma-therapeutic properties useful for the treatment of a particular disease. Those prepared concoctions are taken gingerly with specific treatment purposes. In the USA and some European counties, herbs are distributed and labeled as dietary supplements and are taken by many individuals for a long period of time creating some medical and dental complex problems among them, especially in terms of anesthesia-surgery complications. This paper provides insight into basic differences in how herbs are prepared before administration to the patients in China versus a single unprepared herb sold in the USA and Europe. Also addressed are the interdisciplinary issues with health professionals, the proper regulations for better quality control of imported herbs, and the proper warning on the labels of the herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In attempts to improve their health and/or combat illness, approximately 4 in 10 Americans will use a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy this year. CAM therapies vary widely, with acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, and homeopathy among the more prominent modalities. CAM therapies are used in addition to and/or instead of the more conventional forms of medical care available in U.S. hospitals or licensed physicians' offices. A rapidly increasing interest in CAM has led to a nascent movement aimed at integrating various CAM therapies with the conventional health care system. In Washington State, for example, health insurance coverage for CAM therapies has been mandated, and a number of "integrated" delivery systems have been born. Although the political and economic forces leading to adoption and integration of CAM therapies vary widely by geographic locale, it is likely that some degree of integration will occur throughout much of the United States. Similar processes are occurring in Canada, Europe, and Australia, and indeed within middle and upper level socioeconomic strata worldwide. This paper identifies potential barriers and facilitators to potential integration, of medical disciplines and argues for an accessible, multidisciplinary and evidence-based, yet humanistic and patient oriented approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article briefly discusses various articles contained within the issue that focus on various issues related to complementary and alternative medicine. According to Stephen Groft, first Acting Director of the Office of Alternative Medicine of the U.S. National Institute of Health, worldwide literature searches were used to determine the major fields of practice, which were verified and refined via discussions with practitioners. The six sections, reportedly, were: mind-body interventions; bioelectromagnetics applications; alternative systems of medical practice; manual healing methods; herbal medicine; and diet and nutrition. Currently, U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) now uses five categories, including herbal medicine. In this issue, Curtis H. Jones points out, in his paper, that the category NCCAM now calls Whole Medical Systems overlaps the other four, creating confusion.