China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences on Tuesday set up a research center for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
The results are expected to help the government and the TCM industry to have a better understanding of the distribution, production, environmental and material exploitation for TCM, which will benefit the protection and sustainable utilization of medicinal resources.
Wang Guoqiang, vice health minister and director of the State Administration of TCM, TCM said resources have become increasingly scarce due to profit-driven exploitation too much, and the damage that has been wasted medical resources are scarce.
He identified the lack of overall planning in the exploitation and protection, which should be based on scientific research and surveys, as the outstanding problems for the development of TCM.
China last year conducted a national survey of TCM sources, which include the production, distribution, and natural environment for TCM materials.
Wang said the new center will carefully analyze the results of the survey to come up with suggestions to policy makers industry.
TCM originated from ancient China and has evolved over 2,000 years. Practitioners use herbs, acupuncture, massage and other methods to treat various diseases. Elements of medicinal plants and extracts are mostly used. But in some cases animal parts and minerals are also adopted.