Cm in brief new research from the past fortnight 10

Australian women use Chinese medicine alongside other CAM and conventional treatments Health experts from the University of Technology Sydney are calling for health professionals across both complementary and conventional healthcare, to fully recognise the possible use of Chinese medicine use amongst their practice populations, saying it is imperative for the safety of patients. The call follows recent data from the fifth survey of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health into the use of Chinese medicine by Australian women showing that its use is heavily integrated with the use of many other complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) as well as conventional treatments. The survey authors say future research “should examine women's decision-making, motivations and evaluations regarding Chinese medicine use and consider such issues within the context of broader CAM and conventional health care utilisation…In order to help inform relevant practice and policy development”.