A recent national survey on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has identified a staggering 18,817 varieties of TCM drug materials in the Chinese mainland, according to sources released on Friday.
Guo Lanping, head of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences' Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, highlighted that among these, 3,151 TCM herbs are unique to the Chinese mainland. The survey also revealed that 464 varieties require protection to preserve their availability and efficacy.
In addition to cataloging existing materials, the survey led to the discovery of 196 new species. Approximately 100 of these newly identified species show promise for future medicinal use, Guo added.
This marks the fourth national survey of TCM resources, initiated in 2011. The comprehensive findings have been compiled into a detailed catalog and integrated into a robust database, enhancing the accessibility and study of China’s rich TCM heritage.
Reference(s):
Survey identifies over 18,000 TCM drug material varieties in China
cgtn.com
