We had a very interesting talk about the issue of European regulations on Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and whether they can outlaw it in the future to make way for the Pharmaceutical industries to take over the world (is that my own opinion or a fact? hmmm..we'll see!)
As it stands due to the regulations, or lack thereof, a stall has been put on the Postgraduate MSc course in Medicinal Herbalism...which isn't good news to a first year student in a Herbal Science degree with aspirations to a lovely little Herbal Medicine Clinic and Yoga Centre!!
Long story short, the Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists have taken on themselves to create a Post Graduate Diploma that will have the same standards that are outlined in HETAC Scientific Level 9 standards for qualifications (as seen here http://www.hetac.ie/docs/Science%20-%20Award%20Standards.pdf) and that will hopefully be able to be upgraded to a MSc when "Europe" get their act together and set a guideline for CAM that will allow us to practice at the same recognition as Traditional Medicine. I've been doing some research and these guys are quite interesting and have been funded to do the research on Complimentary and Alternative Medicine that will hopefully lead to a brighter more educated outlook for us all..http://www.cambrella.eu/home.php?
Also I found some interesting reading on the European Directive Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Directive_on_Traditional_Herbal_Medicinal_Products
A point on this directive that angers me SO MUCH is that "Herbal medicine products manufactured using isolated active ingredients from plants will not be regarded as herbal medicines and will not receive an authorisation under this scheme" because this gives pharmaceuticals preferential treatment over whole herb products that have more benefits as the compounds in whole herb medicines tend to work synergistically rather than using isolated components that will probably need to be added to something synthesised to work. (http://www.suite101.com/content/standardized-herbs-new-twist-on-herbal-therapy-a155307)
Although I do think that regulation is essential in the sector, because it is very important to have a framework set up for the Health Sciences, I feel that the research needs to get under way quickly so that Herbalism can be seen to be the Science that it is and not some form of ancient quackery!!
Ok..rant over...(sorry this subject gets me wired up!)
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