China's rich heritage of traditional medicine just got a major boost! 🌱 In an epic national survey, researchers have identified a staggering 18,817 varieties of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) drug materials across the Chinese mainland. Talk about unlocking nature's pharmacy!
Guo Lanping, head of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences' Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, spilled the tea on some exciting findings. Among these treasures, 3,151 herbs are unique to China, showcasing the country's incredible biodiversity. Plus, the survey highlighted 464 varieties that need our protection—let's save these green gems! 🍃
But wait, there's more! 🌿 The team also discovered 196 new species, with about 100 showing potential medicinal powers. Imagine the new remedies and health boosts these plants could offer! 💪
This ambitious survey kicked off back in 2011, marking China's fourth deep dive into TCM resources. Thanks to these efforts, a comprehensive catalog and a shiny new database of TCM goodies have been created, paving the way for future discoveries and innovations. 🚀
Reference(s):
Survey identifies over 18,000 TCM drug material varieties in China
cgtn.com
