ChiMAS provides advice for the safe use of Chinese and other traditional medicines, responding to all levels of enquiry from health professionals.
The support we provide includes:
- General information on the use of Chinese herbal medicine
- Specific queries on safety/efficacy, including:
- Safety assessment based on international literature, taking into account the medical history of the patient
- Review of the prescription used by the patient
- Warnings, if items of concern are identified
- Specific guidelines for the doctor on benefits or possible side effects
- Investigation of suspected adverse reactions/interactions, including:
- Identification of herbs and review of prescription
- Review of medical history and results of relevant tests carried out by reporting doctor
- Discussion with herbal practitioner to establish full medical history
- Advice on management of the ADR
Enquiries are answered on a 24 hour basis by information scientists with experience in responding to enquiries from healthcare professionals. Our Chinese medicine experts review all enquiries and offer specific advice on more complex questions. In addition, a consultant physician is available to provide clinical advice for patient management as required.
ChiMAS also collaborate with a botanical institute enabling herbal material to be submitted for analysis where appropriate.
Requests for information should be made to:
Chinese Medicine Advisory Service (ChiMAS)
Medical Toxicology Information Services
Mary Sheridan House
Guy’s Hospital
London SE1 9RT
Telephone: 020 7188 0199
Fax: 020 7188 0700