Campus Digest

Experts from Mainland and Hong Kong discuss Gao Fang and its clinical effectiveness at first Gao Fang Festival

20 Oct 2014

(From left) Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, President Albert Chan, Professor Chan Wing-kwong, Mr Wong Kit, Dr Ronald Lam, Mr Ting Wing-fai, Ms Irene Ho and Professor Lu Aiping officiate at the opening ceremony (From left) Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, President Albert Chan, Professor Chan Wing-kwong, Mr Wong Kit, Dr Ronald Lam, Mr Ting Wing-fai, Ms Irene Ho and Professor Lu Aiping officiate at the opening ceremony
(From left) Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, President Albert Chan, Professor Chan Wing-kwong, Mr Wong Kit, Dr Ronald Lam, Mr Ting Wing-fai, Ms Irene Ho and Professor Lu Aiping officiate at the opening ceremony

 

The Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) organised the first Gao Fang Festival on Saturday (18 October) with experts from Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong invited to deliver specialised talks on Gao Fang, a method of administering traditional Chinese medicine. The event, which aimed to promote the knowledge of Gao Fang and its medicinal value and clinical effectiveness, attracted about 500 local registered Chinese medicine practitioners and members of the public.
 

The event was officiated by Dr Ronald Lam, Assistant Director (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Department of Health, HKSAR Government; Mr Wong Kit, Chairman of Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board, Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong; Mr Ting Wing-fai, Chairman of Chinese Medicines Committee, Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong; Professor Chan Wing-kwong, Chairman of Hong Kong Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association; Ms Irene Ho, Service Manager (Chinese Medicine Department), Hospital Authority; Professor Albert Chan, President and Vice-Chancellor, HKBU; Professor Lu Aiping, Dean of SCM, HKBU, and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Associate Vice-President and Director of Clinical Division of SCM, HKBU.


Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Albert Chan said HKBU is committed to promoting the development of the local Chinese medicine industry and considers the provision of Chinese medical service as one of its major strategic focus areas. The University plans to establish a Chinese medicine teaching hospital to offer internships to Chinese medicine students as well as provide quality Chinese medicine hospitalisation service to the community. The University hopes to join hands with the HKSAR Government, the industry and the education sector to provide members of the public with high quality Chinese medicine service.


In his speech, Professor Lu Aiping said that Gao Fang is one of the most common methods of administering Chinese medicine. Owing to its comprehensive composition, application versatility, and convenient usage, Gao Fang provides a unique advantage over other forms of preventative healthcare. The School of Chinese Medicine hoped to promote the application of Gao Fang at the Festival and enhance public knowledge and understanding of this form of Chinese medicine.


Following the opening ceremony, attendees participated in a series of activities including academic seminar, public health talks and Gao Fang tasting sessions. A number of Chinese medicine experts spoke on the effectiveness of Gao Fang to treat senile cardiovascular disease and common lifestyle diseases as well as its application in health preservation and adjusting the function of spleen and stomach. 


Gao Fang is one of the most common methods of administering Chinese medicine. The paste form (Gao Fang) is produced by mixing gelatin or honey with the condensed decoction derived from the prescribed herbal medicine after it was boiled for a certain period of time. In this form, the medicine can be preserved for a longer period of time and its taste is considered more acceptable than herbal decoction.


In general, Gao Fang is divided into two categories, topical application and internal ingestion. Topical paste is a common means of external treatment and it can be used to treat internal diseases and gynecological disorders in additional to skin diseases like sores and ulcers. When ingested, Gao Fang serves three major functions, namely nourishing health, recuperation and medication.