Zayed complex gets WHO recognition

The World Health Organisation has named the Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine as a regional centre for alternative medicine in the Middle East.

The nomination was made following a visit to the centre by the WHO alternative medicine representative, who expressed her appreciation of the research conducted by the centre.

The representative pledged to establish joint cooperation with the centre in the field of herbal medicines.

Dr Mazin Naji, Director of the complex, explained that the centre was nominated because it had managed to produce, on a small scale, seven internationally standardised herbal medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, joint inflammation, and ulcers.

He added that tests are also underway to produce, for the first time anywhere in the world, antibiotics from herbs and ointment for acne. He reported that these tests are promising.

The complex treats some 13,000 patients suffering from chronic and incurable diseases.

It also helps the Ministry of Health carry out tests on medicines before registration to ensure that they do not include any poisonous or chemical ingredients and that they are produced according to international standards.

The complex disseminates information on the use of herbal medicines through mass media, medical pamphlets and brochures. It has also established a web site, www.herbal.gov.ae , for this purpose. It has opened channels with the UAE University as well as local and Arab research centres for exchange of experience.

The complex library has 1,500 reference books and subscribes to 20 journals
Dr Naji noted that the current plan is to manufacture all medicines, which are presently undergoing testing, within two years' time and on a large scale. It is also taking steps to enlarge its farm in order to grow more herbs, in addition to issuing a scientific research journal on herbal medicine, as well as a herbal encyclopaedia The Emirates' Medical Herbs.

"The centre has two distinguished characteristics which cannot be found in any other herbal medicine centre," pointed out Dr Naji. The first is that it is a research and treatment centre, and the second is that it employs renowned researchers from different nationalities.

The centre includes four sections – medical herbs, herbal sciences, toxins, and micro-organism. Researchers working in the medical herbs section collect detailed historical information on herbs from elderly nationals who have experience in this field. They also collect herbs that grow in different parts of the country.

After being reduced to powder form, all these herbs are sent to the herbal sciences section, where useful components are extracted using highly advanced technologies. The section also ensures that these do not include any pesticides or radioactive elements. Next, the product is sent to one of the two other sections where it is tested on lab animals.

The centre also has two alternative medicine clinics, one for women and one for men. Around 20 patients from the GCC states visit the centre every month.

The clinics treat piles, prostrate tumours, hyperacidity, hypertension, digestive disorders, urinary tract inflammations, migraine, bronchial asthma, rheumatism, eczema, liver diseases, non-insulin dependent diabetes, and cholesterol.

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