Safety of Complementary Medicines

Dear Colleagues,

Complementary medicines (CM) include a diverse range of therapies and products, such as acupuncture, naturopathy, vitamin and mineral supplements, mind–body practices, etc. These therapies have long been used in many countries, and, in recent times, are increasingly used in communities for preventing or managing various diseases and conditions. Some CM therapies are based on traditional practice systems, such as traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, others are related to the conventional medical practice as supportive therapies. The health benefit of CM is mainly supported by traditional evidence with limited scientific evidence available. On the other hand, there are frequent concerns on their quality and safety which are often associated with product quality, improper practice, contaminants and toxicities of certain ingredients in CM products, such as pesticide residues, heavy metal and microbial contaminants in herbal medicines. It is important to understand the safety aspects of CM in order to minimise the potential risks involved and improve the quality practice/use of CM therapies and products.

This Special Issue invites original contributions, including review articles and practice guidelines, on all aspects of complementary medicines, including basic and clinical research on CM practice and related products, such as surveys, herbal toxicity, drug–herb interactions, contaminants and detections, as well as relevant quality control standards.

Prof. Dr. Chun Guang Li
Guest Editor

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