Part 6: Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Origin, Harvesting, Storage and Processing

my country boasts a vast land area and expansive ocean, possessing a diverse and abundant array of natural medicinal resources, including plants, animals, and minerals. For thousands of years, the Chinese people have used these natural medicines as their primary weapon against disease, playing a vital role in safeguarding public health and ensuring the continuation of the nation.

Because the application of natural medicines is based on the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), possessing a unique theoretical system and application forms, and fully reflecting the characteristics of my country's natural resources, history, and culture, these natural medicines have historically been referred to as "TCM medicines." This article selects and introduces 148 commonly used TCM treatments for erectile dysfunction.

I. General Knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The sources of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with the exception of a few artificial products, are mainly natural plants, animals, and minerals, with plant-based medicines making up the majority. The appropriateness of the origin, harvesting, and storage of TCM directly affects the quality of the medicinal materials.

If the environment for growth, cultivation, or domestication is suitable, the land is suitable, the harvest is timely, and the storage is appropriate, the medicinal materials will be of high quality, have strong medicinal properties, and be effective; otherwise, they will have weak medicinal properties and poor efficacy.

1. Place of origin

The distribution and production of natural medicines are inseparable from certain natural conditions. In my country's vast land and sea areas, the natural geographical conditions are very complex, and the ecological environment, such as soil, climate, sunshine, and biological distribution, is not the same. Therefore, the production of various medicines, in terms of both quantity and quality, has certain regional characteristics.

Through centuries of practice, the ancients learned that even widely distributed medicinal materials vary in quality and specifications depending on the natural conditions of their origin. Therefore, physicians have long highly valued "authentic medicinal materials from their regions," such as ginseng from Northeast China, aconite from Sichuan, rehmannia from Henan, dried tangerine peel from Guangdong, and donkey-hide gelatin from Shandong.

However, the production of various "authentic medicinal herbs" is ultimately limited and cannot meet the ever-increasing demand. Currently, my country is able to utilize modern technology to introduce certain medicinal herbs to other regions or raise animals that can do so. The medicinal effects of these newer herbs are basically the same as those of the original "authentic medicinal herbs," thus satisfying the demand for some of the scarce medicinal herbs to a certain extent.

Therefore, without affecting the efficacy of the medicine, it is not necessary to be bound by the geographical restrictions of "authentic place".

2. Data collection

Most Chinese medicinal herbs are plant-based. The amount of active ingredients contained in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of various plants differs at different stages of growth and development, thus resulting in significant variations in their medicinal properties. Therefore, medicinal herbs should be harvested when the content of active ingredients is at its highest.

The degree of maturity of the part used for medicinal purposes is usually used as the basis. For medicinal use of the whole plant, it is mostly collected when the plant is fully grown or in bloom, and the above-ground parts are cut off from the roots; if the roots are to be used for medicinal purposes, the whole plant can be uprooted.

Leafy medicinal herbs are usually best harvested when the flower buds are about to open or are in full bloom. Flowers are generally harvested when they are in full bloom, but because the flowers open in succession, they should be picked in stages. Fruits and seeds are usually harvested when ripe. Roots and rhizomes are best collected in early spring and late autumn, with a few exceptions where summer is preferable. Bark or root bark is usually collected in spring and summer when the plant is full of sap, with the root bark of a few plants being best harvested in autumn.

3. Storage

The main considerations for storing traditional Chinese medicine are to prevent insect infestation, mold, and spoilage in order to maintain its medicinal efficacy. Dryness is the most basic requirement. Without moisture, many chemical and physical changes will not occur, and microorganisms will not easily grow.

The storage location must be at a low temperature. Low temperature not only prevents changes or inactivation of the drug components, but also prevents the growth and reproduction of spores and insect eggs. Light must be avoided. Many drugs that are susceptible to changes due to light must be placed in ceramic jars or colored glass bottles and stored in a dark place.

To prevent oxidation and deterioration, it should be stored in a sealed container; to prevent mold and insect infestation, it should be placed in a sturdy container and kept in a cool, dry place. Especially for prepared medicines, not only should they be stored properly, but they should also be checked frequently. If mold or deterioration is found, they should be dealt with immediately and the medicine should not be taken.

Because most Chinese medicines are raw herbs, they are prone to mold and spoilage, so individuals should not store too many medicines to avoid waste.

Ointments should be stored in a cool, dry container that is not easily exposed to heat, such as a small covered porcelain jar or earthenware jar. Use a dry small spoon to take out the medicine, and be careful not to let it come into contact with tap water, as tap water can easily cause mold to grow on the medicine.

The fragrance of aromatic medicines is highly volatile, so the bottle opening should be tightly sealed. Some pills wrapped in wax should also be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, because these medicines are often made with aromatic ingredients and protected by a wax shell. If the wax shell melts, the aroma will dissipate, reducing the efficacy of the medicine.

Toxic drugs should be stored separately from general drugs and strictly controlled. Most topical medications are toxic and should also be kept separate from oral medications to prevent accidental ingestion and poisoning.

II. Processing of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Processing is a necessary step in the preparation and processing of medicines before their application or formulation. It includes the repair, sorting, and special treatment of the raw medicinal materials, the latter being known as "processing and roasting." Whether the processing is done properly directly affects the efficacy and safety of the medicine.

1. The purpose of processing

The purposes of processing drugs are generally as follows: ① to eliminate or reduce the toxicity, potency, or side effects of drugs; ② to change the properties of drugs so as to better meet the needs of the disease; ③ to make the active ingredients easier to dissolve and facilitate the preparation of various dosage forms; ④ to dry the drugs so that they are not prone to mold or decay and are easy to store; ⑤ to remove impurities and non-medicinal parts to make the drugs pure so that the dosage is accurate and convenient to take.

2. Processing methods

Based on modern practical experience in processing, there are four main types of processing methods: preparation, water processing, fire processing, and combined water and fire processing. In addition, there are methods such as germination, fermentation, and frosting.

(1) Processing: The purification process involves removing dust, impurities and non-medicinal parts by picking, sorting, winnowing, sieving, scraping and brushing; the pulverization process involves crushing the medicine by pounding, grinding, pounding and filing; and the cutting process involves cutting the medicine into certain sizes by cutting and chopping.

(2) Water processing: The process of slowly soaking the medicine in water or other liquids to soften it is called "moistening"; the process of soaking the medicine in a wide or flowing water and changing the water repeatedly to remove the fishy smell, salt or toxic components is called "bleaching"; the process of separating the medicine into a very fine powder by taking advantage of the settling property of the medicine in water is called "water levigation".

(3) Fire processing: The medicine is placed in a pot and heated and stir-fried until it reaches different degrees such as yellowing, charring, and carbonization, which is called "stir-frying"; the medicine is stir-fried with liquid excipients so that the excipients penetrate into the internal tissue of the medicine, which is called "roasting"; the medicine is directly or indirectly calcined with a strong fire to make it brittle, which is called "calcining"; the medicine is wrapped in wet flour or wet paper and heated in hot ashes until the flour or paper is charred black, which is called "baking".

(4) Water and fire co-processing: Heating the drug together with water or liquid excipients is called "boiling"; heating the drug with steam or water in a water bath is called "steaming"; calcining the drug until it is red-hot and then quickly putting it into cold water or liquid excipients to make it brittle is called "quenching"; quickly immersing the drug in boiling water and then taking it out immediately is called "cooking".