Week Two: Chemistry

The last question on yesterday's quiz concerned the research of "active ingredients" and whether or not the research of Chinese Herbology in this way actually benefits CM.  I answered that it didn't, making a distinction between the medicine itself and possible side-benefits like influencing public opinion as to the efficacy of CM.  I think "active ingredient" research is a product of Western medicine, serving to benefit it's interests, and promote it's own perspective as to how we go about exploiting the chemistry of plants and other things 'useful' in nature.

Anyways, at the end of class the question came up again, and it was clear Larry was interested in the aspect of "active ingredient" being something that is isolated and thus "controlled".  This sparked a quick conversation about the FDA's role in regulating Chinese Medicine, as well as the ma huang debacle, to which I recommended this qiological podcast with Kevin Ergil for good coverage on the subject.

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