Clinical Research

Clinical Research in Complementary Medicine

A key challenge in validating complementary medicine is to systematically assess and evaluate clinical outcomes through scientific research methodologies. This research contributes to improved health by providing new options for disease management and prevention that can be directly integrated into mainstream health practices.

CompleMED’s clinical program concentrates on four key nodes:

• women’s health, in collaboration with Professor Felix Wong, Liverpool Hospital
• aged care in collaboration with Professor Daniel Chan, Bankstown Hospital 
• cardiovascular health in collaboration with Professor Hosen Kiat, Cardiac Health Institute
• gastroenterology in collaboration with Professor Nick Talley, Nepean Hospital 

A collaborative effort between CompleMED and the South Western Sydney Area Health Service resulted in Australia’s first Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Centre, which was launched in 2002 and based at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney. The clinic facilitated collection of high quality evidence based clinical data on the use of Chinese medicine in the treatment of women’s health disorders. 

Partnerships with other institutions as well as various specialist centres nationally and internationally has created a productive network of leading clinical experts and facilities.

CompleMED’s clinical research projects are undertaken in accordance with global standards of Good Clinical Practice using Standard Operating Procedures, and have been published in high quality medical journals. CompleMED has successfully completed clinical trials on the evaluation of herbal medicines and/or acupuncture for health conditions such as:

• irritable bowel syndrome
• infertility 
• endometriosis
• menopause
• vascular dementia
• dysmenorrhoea
• metabolic syndrome
• diabetes
• delayed onset muscle soreness
• cold sores
• hepatitis C

» Currently recruiting volunteers for clinical trials:

• We are currently seeking women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to participate in a clincal trial investigating the effectiveness of naturopathy (herbal medicine and consultations with a naturopath) in addition to exercise for menstrual regularity, fertiity (if appropriate), body characteristics and quality of life. Contact s.arentz@uws.edu.au 

• The role of acupuncture with the management of threatened miscarriage

  Researchers can be contacted at 16910687@student.uws.edu.au

• Clinical evaluation of a Chinese herbal medicine for constipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (C-IBS)
  For further information please download a Participant Information Sheet or call 02 4620 3283 

• Restoring resilience in refugees: a pilot trial of a novel therapeutic intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder in Iraqi refugees (the Triple R Study)        
  For further information please call Caroline Smith on 02 4620 3777  

• Effectiveness of acupuncture on IVF                                        
  For further information please contact Sarah Fogarty on s.fogarty@uws.edu.au or call 02 4620 3290