HK expert closing gap between Chinese and Western medicine

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Professor Robert Ko showing the Infinitus Schisandra Plus.

Professor Robert Ko showing the Infinitus Schisandra Plus.

KUCHING: A medical expert from Hong Kong, whose over-arching ambition is to bridge the gap between Chinese and Western medicine, was here to provide a talk on Chinese traditional medicine and a product called ‘Schisandra Plus’ at the Kingwood Inn here.

According to Professor Robert KM Ko from Division of Life Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Schisandra Plus is based on a famous traditional Chinese formulation “Sheng Mai San” which incorporates a scientific approach to promote good health.

Schisandra Plus contains Schisandrin B, an antioxidant factor acting as a scavenger to improve the body’s resistance against harmful effects of free radicals.

“Treatment with Schisandrin B, can reverse mitochondrial ageing in tissues of the brain, heart, liver and skeletal muscles,” he said on Friday.

Ko said Schisandra Plus is one of many ‘Infinitus’ products created to specifically nourish and balance the body’s nutrients to revitalize the functions of vital organs.

He said Schisandra Plus protects the body from free-radical damage, increases energy and physical endurance, negates stress and thus delays the onset of ageing, to reduce and prevent infections as well as damage from radiation.

Professor Ko obtained his PhD in Pharmacology from University of British Columbia (Canada) in 1990.

He joined the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1991, where he is currently a professor in Division of Life Science.

He is also the deputy director of the Chinese Herb Research Centre.

He has published a book ‘Pharmacological Studies on Sheng Mai San’ (Chinese pulse-activating tonic) as well as more than 90 papers in medical journals on his research findings.

Professor Ko has served on the Chinese Medicine Board of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong from 1999 onwards.

“Chinese medicine is ancient, historical, with its own distinct theory.

“It is different from Western medicine. Both systems of medicine have the same purpose which is to treat people although they have different way of doing things,” he explained.

“So my work is to try build a bridge between Chinese and Western medicine.

“And the bridge is constructed with scientific evidence in terms of Western medicine. My research is on Chinese herbs used for preventing diseases, promoting health. It can be divided into two categories, prevention and treatment,” said Prof Ko, who has also studied biochemistry.

Stockists for ‘Schisandra Plus’ are Kuching Infinitus Tpoint at Joy Pharmacy, Lot 2585 and 2586, Block 10, Central Park, Jalan Rock (tel 016-862 2468); and Miri Infinius Tpoint at Lot 6794, Taman Tunku commercial centre, Jalan Kuching (tel 085-613 623).