Resource: National Federation of Chinese TCM Organizations (USA)Resource: National Federation of Chinese TCM Organizations (USA)

 

Jointly organized by New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, Wildlife Protection in Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference was held on October 16, 2022 at the Hilton Financial District of San Francisco, California, USA. TCM colleagues from nearly 20 countries and regions attended the conference either in-person or online, with over 1,000 registrants. The co-chairs of the conference, Yemeng Chen, Ph.D., and Lixing Lao, Ph.D., presided over the conference and gave speeches as well. Dr. Lao delivered the opening remarks.

 

 

Dr. Zhilin Dong from the Netherlands, Chairman of World Traditional Medicine Forum (WTMF) and Vice President of World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, and Dr. Chunbiao Guo, Secretary-General of WTMF and President of Italian National Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, jointly delivered a keynote speech for the conference in a theme of “Traditional Chinese medicine as China’s quintessence goes to the world and should take the social responsibility of protecting wildlife”. Ms. Huang Lixin, former President of Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) and former President of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, introduced her experience in actively advocating for and participating in wildlife protection for more than 20 years, and was respected by the participants.

 

Three distinguished researchers from China delivered their video presentation on the topics of medicinal wild animal substitutes and current situation and dilemma of wild animal protection. They were Professor Zheng-tao Wang from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Professor Yibin Feng from School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, and Professor Youbing Zhou from Three Gorges University. Mark McKenzie, Ph.D., Executive Director of Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), introduced accreditation standards and professional competencies related to the use of natural products. Daniel Jiao, DAOM, former Chair of National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) gave a presentation on wildlife protection in the treatment of common gynecological diseases with classical herbal formulas. Jean Giblette, from High Falls Garden in New York, introduced wild-cultivation in the conservation of Chinese medicinal plants.

 

Many industry leaders from herbal manufacturers and distributors attended the conference to express their support for the protection of endangered wild animals. They were Yvonne Lau (President of Mayway Corporation), Qifei Hu (General Manager of Tianjiang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), Dr. Teresa Williams (President of Blue Light “Treasure of the East”), Danny Qiu (U.S. representative of PuriPharm International Company in Hong Kong), and Jipu “Dan” Wen (President of TCMZone, LLC).

The on-site and online responses were enthusiastic during the panel discussion, expressing that Chinese medicine should take a clear-cut stand to protect endangered wild animals, continue to protect tigers, and currently focus on the protection of pangolins. They also expressed concerns about the rampant smuggling of wild animals.

 

The conference was supported by various professional organizations and colleges in the United States, including five leading organizations such as Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM), Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA), and Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR) as well as overseas World Traditional Medicine Forum (WTMF), Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM), Good Practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Association (GP-TCM-RA), School of Chinese Medicine The University of Hong Kong University, Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA), and NICM Health Research Institute Western Sydney University.

 

This conference was also the 2022 annual symposium of the National Federation of Chinese TCM Organizations (NFCTCMO). President Yemeng Chen was one of the co-chairs of this conference. The two vice presidents, Ann Wang and Joanna Zhao, were moderators of sessions respectively. Also present at the meeting were Jun Hu (Vice Chairman of World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies and President of American Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association, AACMA), Wenzhou Zhong (Academic Director of AACMA), Ron Zaidman (President of Five Branches University), Philip Yang (President of California University-Silicon Valley), and Joe Zhou (President of American Academy of Health & Wellness). Kenny Lau, President of Chinese Herb Trade Association of America, gave strong support to the convening of this conference.

 

The highlight of this conference was a declaration on the protection of wildlife in traditional Chinese medicine, which was signed by New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Virginia University of Integrative Medicine together with 28 other professional organizations and colleges around the world.

 

At the end, Dr. Yemeng Chen delivered a closing remark and emphasized that this conference was just the beginning of wildlife protection action and further activities would be followed.

 

Declaration

(October 16, 2022; San Francisco, USA)

We commit to support protecting wildlife and not using any endangered wildlife [animal] products in Chinese medicine.

• This declaration is signed by organizations of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine practitioners and educators, Chinese herbal manufactures, and relevant stakeholders

New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Virginia University of Integrative Medicine

Together with:

(In the US)             Council of Colleges of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine (CCAHM)

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA)

Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR)

National Federation of Chinese TCM Organizations (NFCTCMO)

American TCM Association (ATCMA)

American TCM Society (ATCMS)

American Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA)

United Alliance of New York State Licensed Acupuncturists (UANYSLA)

Florida Acupuncture Association (FAA)

Five Branches University

Chinese Medicine Luobing Society of America

Chinese Herb Trade Association of America

California University Silicon Valley

Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine

American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

American Academy of Health & Wellness

California Acupuncture United Association (CAUA)

          Young Acupuncturists Association of America (YAAA)

(In the World)             World Traditional Medicine Forum (WTMF)

Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM)

School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd (AACMA)

NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University

(Supporting Herbal Manufactures & Distributors)

Tianjiang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

E-Fong Herbs

TCMzone, LLC

PuraPharm International Company