Chinese herbal medicine
Synopsis
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine is the core method of treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a history spanning thousands of years. Li Shizhen spent 27 years compiling the "Compendium of Materia Medica," which records 1,892 medicinal substances. In 2011, it was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The processing techniques of Chinese herbal medicine are recognized as national intangible cultural heritage. Tu Youyou extracted artemisinin from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua and was awarded the Nobel Prize, highlighting it as a treasure of ancient Chinese science.
Overview
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the most important therapeutic methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and one of the most unique contributions of Chinese civilization. The use of Chinese herbs has a history spanning thousands of years in China—from the ancient legend of Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs, to the theoretical foundation laid by the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), to the comprehensive compilation by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica). Chinese herbal medicine has formed the world's most complete traditional pharmacology system. In 2011, Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu and the Huangdi Neijing were jointly inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, signifying the global cultural recognition of China's traditional pharmacology. The processing techniques of Chinese medicine have been included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
The wonder of Chinese herbal medicine lies not only in its focus on the symptoms of disease but also in its emphasis on holistic regulation and treatment based on syndrome differentiation. The same disease may be treated with completely different prescriptions for individuals with different constitutions. Furthermore, the various herbs within a single prescription follow the complex and sophisticated principle of "sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy" in their combination, forming an extremely intricate and refined system of medication.
Historical Heritage
| Period | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Shennong Era | Legend has it that Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, encountering seventy poisons in a single day, pioneering pharmacology. |
| Han Dynasty | The Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica) was compiled, recording 365 medicinal substances, making it the earliest extant pharmacological monograph. |
| Eastern Han Dynasty | Zhang Zhongjing authored Shanghan Zabing Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases), laying the foundation for formula science. |
| Tang Dynasty | The Xinxiu Bencao (Newly Revised Materia Medica) was the world's first pharmacopoeia issued by a state. |
| Ming Dynasty | Li Shizhen spent 27 years compiling the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), recording 1892 medicinal substances. |
| Modern Era | Tu Youyou extracted artemisinin from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), receiving the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. |
The Bencao Gangmu is the pinnacle work in the history of Chinese pharmacology. Ming Dynasty medical scholar Li Shizhen (1518-1593) spent 27 years traveling across the country to collect medicinal specimens, consulting over 800 reference works, and ultimately compiled this monumental pharmacological work. The Bencao Gangmu records 1892 medicinal substances, includes 11,096 attached prescriptions, and features over 1,100 medicinal illustrations. It provides detailed accounts of each substance's name, origin, morphology, properties, efficacy, and indications. It is not merely a pharmacological monograph but also touches upon fields such as botany, zoology, mineralogy, and chemistry. British biologist Charles Darwin referred to it as the encyclopedia of ancient China.
Commonly Used Chinese Herbs
| Herb | Efficacy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ginseng (Renshen) | Greatly tonifies primordial qi, restores the pulse and secures collapse | One of the "Three Treasures of the Northeast," known as the "King of Herbs" |
| Chinese Angelica (Danggui) | Tonifies blood, invigorates blood circulation, regulates menstruation, relieves pain | Said to be used in "nine out of ten formulas" |
| Astragalus (Huangqi) | Tonifies qi, raises yang, benefits the defensive qi, secures the exterior | The most commonly used qi-tonifying herb |
| Goji Berry (Gouqi) | Tonifies the liver and kidneys, benefits essence and brightens the eyes | Ningxia goji berries are the most famous |
| Licorice (Gancao) | Harmonizes various herbs, clears heat and removes toxicity | Known as the "Grand Minister," most common in formulas |
| Sweet Wormwood (Qinghao) | Clears heat and relieves summerheat, reduces deficient heat | Source material from which Tu Youyou extracted artemisinin |
| Cordyceps (Dongchong Xiacao) | Tonifies the kidneys and benefits the lungs, stops bleeding and resolves phlegm | High-altitude specialty, expensive |
| Reishi Mushroom (Lingzhi) | Tonifies qi and calms the spirit, relieves cough and calms wheezing | Regarded as the "immortal herb" since ancient times |
Processing of Chinese Medicine
The processing (Paozhi) of Chinese medicine is the preparatory processing procedure before the use of Chinese herbs, a highly distinctive skill within TCM. Processing methods include cleaning (removing impurities), cutting (slicing, segmenting, dicing), stir-frying (plain stir-frying, bran stir-frying, salt stir-frying, etc.), honey-frying (stir-frying with adjuvant materials), calcining (high-temperature burning), steaming, etc. Through processing, medicinal substances can have their toxicity reduced and efficacy enhanced, their properties altered, and become easier to store and dispense. For example, raw Rehmannia root (Sheng Dihuang) is cold in nature and cools the blood, but after being processed nine times through steaming and sun-drying into prepared Rehmannia root (Shu Dihuang), it becomes warm in nature and tonifies the blood, undergoing a fundamental change in medicinal effect.
The processing techniques of Chinese medicine have been included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The Han-style Peng Yinting Chinese Medicine Processing Technique is a representative project among them. It employs processes such as cleaning, cutting, stir-frying, steaming, and complex processing to transform Chinese medicinal materials into decoction pieces ready for clinical dispensing. Each step embodies the experience and wisdom of generations of pharmaceutical workers.
The Inspiration of Artemisinin
In 2015, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of artemisinin, becoming the first mainland Chinese scientist to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences. Tu Youyou drew inspiration from Ge Hong's Zhouhou Beiji Fang (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies) from the Eastern Jin Dynasty—which recorded that a handful of sweet wormwood (qinghao), soaked in two liters of water, wrung to extract the juice, and taken fully, could treat malaria. She realized that high temperature might have destroyed the active components in the herb, so she switched to a low-temperature extraction method and successfully isolated artemisinin. This discovery has saved the lives of millions of malaria patients worldwide and also demonstrated the immense scientific value contained within Chinese herbal medicine.
References
- China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network: https://www.ihchina.cn/news_1_details/10701.html
- National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine: http://www.natcm.gov.cn
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/中药
- Qstheory.cn: https://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2024-12/01/c_1130223992.htm
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