In Hong Kong, investigation into the medicinal effects of Chinese herbs is an ongoing activity for many researchers at several universities. The Jacobson Laboratory for Botanical Drug Research is located at the City University of Hong Kong. Currently, its focus is on treatment of hepatitis with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and on multidrug resistant cancer cells with TCM.

Degree programs in Chinese medicine are available at The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. These programs were established primarily as a response to the community’s growing needs for high quality education and training in TCM. The first two universities also offer a program specifically leading to the Bachelor of Pharmacy in Chinese medicine.

In recent years, the clinical and non-clinical research projects conducted by the Institute of Chinese Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong include: herbal medicine for women; anti-allergic herbs; and the effects of (adjuvant) Chinese medicine on various disorders or conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, lung cancer, menopausal symptoms, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, cough, AIDS, and insomnia.

These educational and research programs all point to the direction that there is an ever increasing need for and recognition of TCM, of which acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are the principal branches, as an alternative or a supplement to Western medicine.

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