分类： health

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is experiencing a significant surge in recognition and adoption across Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, driven by its holistic approach and growing integration with Western medical practices. Steven Wolfgang Sass, a Melbourne-based TCM practitioner, exemplifies this trend. His clinic, which opened nearly two years ago, has seen a steady increase in patients seeking relief from conditions ranging from chronic pain to stress-related ailments. Sass’s success stories, such as treating a neurologist with acupuncture, highlight TCM’s efficacy and its ability to complement conventional treatments.

In a significant stride towards combating thalassemia, the Southeast Asia Thalassemia Prevention Alliance (SEATPA) was officially launched in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Monday. This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by BGI Group, a leading Chinese life sciences and genomics company, aims to eradicate preventable cases of this inherited blood disorder across Southeast Asia. Thalassemia, characterized by impaired hemoglobin synthesis and accelerated red blood cell destruction, poses a major public health challenge in the region due to its high prevalence. SEATPA’s mission is to foster cross-border collaboration, uniting countries, experts, and communities to enhance prevention and control efforts. The alliance will focus on capacity building, standardized training, technical unification, public awareness campaigns, and the sharing of expertise. Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, Pattana Promphat, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in adapting modern medical technologies to local contexts and building a robust response to the disease. Wang Jian, co-founder and chairman of BGI Group, highlighted the necessity of global cooperation in precision medicine, stating that the alliance will bring advanced screening and treatment solutions to Southeast Asia, shifting the medical paradigm from passive treatment to active prevention. Piriya Cherdsatirakul, Vice-president of Chiang Mai University, lauded the alliance as a ‘significant milestone’ in improving the quality of life for thalassemia patients and offering new hope to the region.

Southwest China’s Guizhou province, home to 48 of the country’s 56 ethnic groups, has long been a hub of cultural and medicinal diversity. In Tongren, a city in Guizhou, Bai Yutao, a rehabilitation physician and acupuncturist, employs traditional Qiang ethnic techniques to treat patients. His method, known as ‘white-stone therapy,’ involves immersing polished stones in herbal broth, wrapping them in cloth, and rolling them across a patient’s back to release muscle tension. This fusion of ancient practices and modern medical care exemplifies Guizhou’s unique approach to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Guizhou’s rich ethnic heritage has become a cornerstone of its TCM industry. At Jiangkou County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bai and his team have adapted Qiang manual techniques to meet clinical standards, ensuring safety and efficacy. Historically, ethnic healing systems like Miao and Qiang medicine included shamanistic elements and were passed down orally. However, as younger generations pursue formal education and urban jobs, the number of traditional healers is dwindling. Bai emphasizes the need to preserve these cultural roots while making them accessible to a broader audience.

In 2024, Tongren was designated a national pilot zone for the inheritance and innovative development of TCM. Efforts include standardizing treatments, regulating medicinal materials, and establishing quality control centers. The region is also leveraging its unique plant resources for economic growth. For instance, barrenwort, a herb known for strengthening tendons and bones, is cultivated in Jiangkou county and has become a staple in medicines and supplements. State-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group has partnered with local cooperatives to build the country’s largest barrenwort breeding base, providing technical guidance and purchase guarantees to farmers.

Guizhou’s aromatic and medicinal raw materials are also gaining international recognition. Companies like Guizhou Miaoyao Biotech Co export essential oils and plant extracts, with valerian oil being a major product. The company supports over 3,000 cooperative households and plans to expand its branded wellness products. This blend of tradition and innovation is transforming Guizhou’s healthcare landscape while boosting its economy.

In a groundbreaking study conducted at Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College, researchers have discovered that playing music to patients during surgery under general anaesthesia can significantly reduce the need for anaesthetic drugs and improve recovery outcomes. The study, published in the journal *Music and Medicine*, focused on patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a common keyhole procedure to remove the gallbladder.

China’s seven provincial-level cord blood banks have unveiled a comprehensive action plan to enhance research and clinical applications of cord blood. The initiative was announced at the 12th Cord Blood Symposium, organized by the Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association in Beijing. The participating banks, officially approved by the National Health Commission, are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and the provinces of Guangdong, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang.

The action plan focuses on increasing public awareness about cord blood and cell therapy, improving the quality of cord blood collection, and ensuring high standards in processing and cryopreservation. It also aims to promote the use of cord blood in clinical settings and advance research and applications at medical and scientific institutions.

Cord blood, collected from a newborn’s umbilical cord shortly after birth, has significant potential in treating various diseases. Wei Xiaofei, an official from the Beijing cord blood bank, highlighted that China has over 30 years of experience in cord blood storage and application. The seven official banks have collectively stored more than 2.45 million units of cord blood and released over 45,000 units for clinical use.

‘The action plan enables the seven cord blood banks to leverage their respective strengths, collaborate on targeted research, develop high-quality solutions, and jointly accelerate the translation of scientific achievements into clinical practice,’ Wei stated.

Sun Zimin, a professor from the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, noted that cord blood can now be used to treat nearly 80 diseases, including leukemia, aplastic anemia, immunodeficiency disorders, genetic metabolic diseases, and certain neurological conditions. She added that through optimizing pretreatment and supportive care, the stable engraftment rate of cord blood transplantation in clinical practice has risen to over 97 percent.

Sun emphasized the importance of establishing larger and higher-quality public cord blood banks to provide lifesaving opportunities for more patients, especially those in urgent need of a transplant who are unable to find a suitable match.

Israel is grappling with a severe mental health crisis, described as a “mental health tsunami” by Yedioth Ahronoth. Since the events of 7 October 2023, the nation has witnessed a sharp increase in mental health issues, with two million people requiring support. A coalition of eight major mental health organizations has issued an urgent warning to the government, labeling the situation as an “outbreak of mental illness unprecedented in its depth and scope.” The crisis has been exacerbated by a severe shortage of therapists and support services, leading to widespread psychological distress across Israeli society. The prolonged conflict and trauma have left many struggling with depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and exhaustion. Families and communities are being severely affected, with experts warning that the crisis has not yet peaked. Data from Yedioth Ahronoth reveals alarming statistics: diagnoses of depression and anxiety in 2024 doubled compared to 2013, while PTSD diagnoses rose by 70 percent monthly from October 2023 to the end of 2024. Nearly half of Israelis report symptoms of persistent grief, and calls to mental health helplines have increased sixfold. A study by Clalit Health Services and the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute found that 50 percent of those affected by the 7 October attacks are still struggling, with one in five people in the general population suffering severe functional impairment due to mental health issues. The Israeli Ministry of Health has announced a national rescue plan, estimated to cost 1.7 billion shekels ($517 million), which includes doubling the number of psychologists, improving salaries, upgrading psychiatric wards, and expanding home-based and community services. However, senior clinicians stress that extensive reforms are needed to address the crisis effectively.

In the aftermath of relentless Israeli bombardment, Gaza’s healthcare system is grappling with a silent crisis: widespread hearing loss among its population. The story of Aya Abu Auda and her two young sons, Elias and Ismail, epitomizes the human toll of this devastation. Injured during an attack on their displacement camp in Gaza City, the brothers now suffer from severe hearing impairments. Elias, just five years old, is completely deaf, while Ismail, eight, has lost significant hearing in both ears. Their mother, who had already fled her home after losing her husband to Israeli airstrikes, is now struggling to find treatment for her children in a healthcare system crippled by blockades and destruction.

Sanaa Bahr, another victim of the conflict, recounts her own harrowing experience. Fleeing her home during an air raid, she was exposed to the deafening blasts of F-16 jets and explosive-laden vehicles, leaving her with permanent hearing damage. Like many others in Gaza, she has been unable to access the specialized care she desperately needs.

Yusra Basil, an audiology specialist, highlights the scale of the crisis. The constant bombardment has caused ‘massive auditory damage’ across Gaza, with four in every ten injuries involving some form of hearing impairment. The destruction of rehabilitation centers and the displacement of medical staff have exacerbated the situation, leaving thousands without access to essential treatments like cochlear implants and hearing aids.

A field survey by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children reveals that 35,000 children and adults have suffered hearing loss as a direct result of the conflict. Without urgent intervention, many cases of partial or temporary hearing loss risk becoming permanent, particularly among children, whose development depends heavily on their ability to hear.

Israel’s blockade has further deepened the crisis, preventing the entry of medical supplies and equipment. Organizations like Atfaluna have tried to secure hearing aids and other essential tools from international agencies, but Israel’s restrictions have rendered these efforts largely futile. The result is a population left to endure not only the physical scars of war but also the profound psychological and social challenges of living with untreated hearing loss.