The catalogue of the Westhoff collection of Chinese materia medica (c. 1870): Evidence of interaction between a Chinese medicine practitioner and the Dutch in Indonesia.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Westhoff collection of Chinese materia medica (c. 1870) at the Utrecht University Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands, contains an original, handwritten catalogue, which was putatively ascribed to a Chinese medicine practitioner. It provides a detailed record of the Chinese names, plant parts, preparations, and applications of the specimens contained in glass bottles, which probably reflects the physician's personal interpretation of Chinese medicine in Indonesia at the end of the 19th century. Such individual catalogues can reveal historical changes and regional variations in the use of traditional Chinese medicine, which can lead to a better understanding of the history and development of this field. AIM OF THE STUDY: We addressed the following questions: 1) What are the contents of the Westhoff catalogue? 2) What medicinal preparations and applications were recorded in the catalogue, and which ones are dominant? 3) How similar is the use of Chinese materia medica in Westhoff catalogue compared to the modern Chinese Pharmacopeia? 4) What other specific information is contained in the Westhoff catalogue? MATERIALS AND METHODS: The catalogue had been digitized previously, and all handwritten Dutch text has been transcribed and translated into English. The information for each entry was summarized and analyzed, the medicinal applications were compared to modern Chinese pharmacopeia or other monographs on Chinese materia medica. RESULTS: The catalogue contains 436 entries, for which 395 corresponding specimens still exist in the Westhoff collection of Chinese materia medica. Each entry contains a serial number, a Chinese name, a phonetic Dutch transcription of the Chinese name, a description of the plant, animal, or mineral origin of the medicinal product, the preparation method, and the medical indication for which it should be used. The dominant preparation method is decoction (79% of the entries). The most frequently mentioned applications are fever, skin diseases, strengthening and wounds. Around 80% of the medicinal applications in the catalogue were also listed for the same CMM in modern monographs. The catalogue also sheds light on typical characteristics of popular medicine, their geographic origin, and social aspects of traditional Chinese medicine in Indonesia around 1870. CONCLUSIONS: The Westhoff catalogue is a valuable record of Chinese materia medica and its practice in a specific time and space. It reflects an individual physician's interpretation of Chinese medicine, shows the difficulties in the interpretation of cultural-bound health issues between the Dutch and the Chinese, and provides evidence that traditional Chinese medicine spread not only in East Asia but also to the distant Western world.

[Research and application of intelligent hyperspectral analysis technology for Chinese materia medica].

With the development of imaging technology and artificial intelligence, hyperspectral imaging technology provides a fast, non-destructive, intelligent, and precise new method for the analysis of Chinese materia medica(CMM). This paper summarized the methods and applications of hyperspectral imaging technology combined with intelligent analysis technology in the field of CMM in recent years, focusing on the acquisition and preprocessing of hyperspectral data, intelligent analysis methods of hyperspectral data, and practical cases of these technologies in the field of CMM. Hyperspectral data of CMM can provide spectral information with nanometer-level resolution and rich spatial texture information simultaneously. This paper summarized the acquisition process, including black-and-white board calibration and region-of-interest extraction, and preprocessing methods including smoothing, differentiation, scale-space, and scattering correction. The feature extraction methods in terms of spectral, spatial, color, and texture were briefly described, and common modeling methods were summarized. Finally, this paper reviewed the research cases of the application of the above methods to the fields of CMM, such as authenticity identification, origin tracing, variety recognition, year identification, sulfur fumigation degree determination, and quantitative measurement.

Acute Fulminant Hepatic Failure in 23-Year-Old Female Taking Homeopathic Remedy.

Homeopathic remedies made primarily from eggshells, and therefore calcium, can be marketed for treatment of back pain and vaginal discharge. We present a case of a 23-year-old otherwise healthy woman who presented with acute liver failure (ALF) ultimately requiring liver transplantation as a result of taking increased doses of a homeopathic product with the primary ingredient of eggshells. Although relatively uncommon compared with medications such as acetaminophen, herbal supplements have been reported to cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI), thought to be primarily due to contaminants. This is the first known report of DILI resulting from a homeopathic product with the primary ingredient of eggshells, and it demonstrates the importance of early ALF recognition and treatment, as well as the importance of practicing caution when using homeopathic supplements.

Kangfuxin liquid reduces the ultraviolet B-induced photodamage of HaCaT cells by regulating autophagy.

Kangfuxin liquid (KFX), an extract of the American cockroach, has been clinically proven to be effective in various skin damage disorders, but there are no reports on its use in photodamage. We explored the effect of KFX on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced photodamage and whether its mechanism was related to autophagy. We found that KFX treatment reduced UVB-induced reactive oxygen species production and improved the vitality of cells inhibited by UVB irradiation. The expression of LC3 (A/B), which was inhibited after UVB irradiation, could be rescued by KFX treatment. Furthermore, KFX may upregulate the level of cellular autophagy by regulating the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway. When the autophagy inhibitor wortmannin was used to inhibit autophagy, the protective effect of KFX on cells was diminished or even disappeared. Our study suggests that KFX may resist UVB-mediated oxidative stress damage of HaCaT through the induction of autophagy.

Review on Processing Methods of Toxic Chinese Materia Medica and the Related Mechanisms of Action.

Toxic Chinese materia medica (CMM) has both pharmacological activities and toxic effects. Based on thousands of years of experience in the application of CMMs, people have explored many practical processing methods of CMMs, also known as "Pao Zhi", to reduce/control toxicity and preserve/enhance efficacy. Toxic CMMs have been used throughout China's hospitals. Yet, the production and use of toxic CMM should be carried out in accordance with the Chinese pharmacopoeia (ChP) and the processing regulations formulated by the health administrative departments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government. This paper summarizes the current understanding and awareness of toxicity and 45 toxic CMMs, the commonly used processing methods of toxic CMMs recorded in the 2020 edition of ChP, and the changes in the chemical component, toxicity, or efficacy profiles after processing. This review may provide useful information for the processing methods of toxic CMMs worldwide. We believe that with an in-depth study and understanding of toxic CMMs combined with a standardized application, the toxicity of CMMs will be predictable and controllable in the future.

[Dietetic Materia Medica (Yue Fu Shi Wu Ben Cao) : The rise of Dietetic Materia Medica in the Edo Period in Japan].

Food was believed to have some medicinal properties apart from its everyday sustenance in Japan in the Edo period (1603-1867). The dietetic materia medica then became a knowledge system in Japan with reference of the knowledge system of traditional Chinese materia medica, following some related books published.Dietetic Materia Medica (Yue Fu Shi Wu Ben Cao) was written by Nagoya Genyi as the pioneer work on dietetic materia medica in the Edo period. The book was divided into two volumes. The first one involved a total of 290 types of dietetic materia medica and 167 types of botanical medicines (grains, vegetables, aquatic plants, fungi, fruits, and herbs). The second volume included 123 types of animal medicines (fish,meso, poultry and animal sections). Its author, Nagoya Genyi, was the first doctor to link food with clinical treatment in Japan. He mainly focused on disease treatment in terms of specific classification and exposition. In this sense, the book was characteristic of materia medica rather than its museum properties. The content of the book showed the writing style and the medical tendency of the early food materia medica in the Edo period. Researching this book can help in understanding the compilation of dietetic materia medica represented by physicians in this period in Japan.

The Homeopathic Approach to the Treatment of Acute Herpes Zoster.

Despite its demonstrated efficacy, the conventional pharmacologic approach to the treatment of Herpes zoster often has shortcomings-delayed treatment response times, limited treatment window to prevent PHN, and outright treatment failures. It is obvious in light of the foregoing evidence that other treatment options merit consideration, complementary and/or alternative medical disciplines among them. Homeopathic medicine, based on extensive clinical experience, coupled with its remarkable safety profile and convenience of administration, is one such discipline.

Recommendations in the design and conduction of randomised controlled trials in human and veterinary homeopathic medicine.

BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are an established research method to investigate the effects of an intervention. Several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs with homeopathic interventions have identified shortcomings in design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of trials. Guidelines for RCTs in homeopathic medicine are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to fill this gap in order to enhance the quality of RCTs in the field of homeopathy. METHODS: Identification of the homeopathy-specific requirements for RCTs by reviewing literature and experts' communications. Systematization of the findings using a suitable checklist for planning, conducting, and reporting RCTs, namely the SPIRIT statement, and high-quality homeopathy RCTs as examples. Cross-checking of the created checklist with the RedHot-criteria, the PRECIS criteria, and a qualitative evaluation checklist. Consideration of the REFLECT statement and the ARRIVE Guidelines 2.0 for veterinary homeopathy. RESULTS: Recommendations for future implementation of RCTs in homeopathy are summarized in a checklist. Alongside, identified useful solutions to the issues encountered when designing and conducting homeopathy RCTs are presented. CONCLUSIONS: The formulated recommendations present guidelines additional to those in the SPIRIT checklist, on how to better plan, design, conduct, and report RCTs in homeopathy.

Remedies for Kidney Ailments in Physica by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179).

OBJECTIVES: Hildegard von Bingen (Hildegardis Bingensis; Saint Hildegard), the Sibyl of the Rhine (AD 1098-1179), was a Benedictine abbess, musician, poet, writer, counselor, and healer. As an influential personality of the 12th century, she was advisor of kings, princes, and bishops. Her medical work is collected in 2 books (AD 1152-1163): Physica and Causae et Curae. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of the nephrology-oriented remedies in Physica and compare these with the respective remedies in De Materia Medica (AD 1st century) by Dioscorides Pedanios Anazarbeus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Physica is a collection of 9 volumes with an inventory of plants, trees, elements, stones, animals, and metals and describes the associated natural therapeutic properties. We studied all 293 plants (230 herbaceous plants, and 63 trees) in this treatise and recorded all nephrology-related remedies. In addition, we recorded the treatment indications of the same remedies in De Materia Medica. Nephrology-oriented material was defined as any item with nephrology-related pharmacological action (diuretic) or indication (eg, dysuria, nephritis, stones, sand, dropsy). Our findings are presented as simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Among all plants, there were 15 (5.1%) of nephrological interest (11 herbaceous plants and 4 trees). Only some of the natural ingredients mentioned in Physica were found with the same indication in the ancient text, De Materia Medica (9 of 15). The nephrological treatment indications described in Physica included dysuria, nephritic pain, and lithiasis in 87% and dropsy (edema) in 13.0%, which is comparable with 10% in De Materia Medica. CONCLUSIONS: Physica provides a reliable account of medicine in the 12th century as it was practiced by the clergy for generations. It also incorporates Hildegard's personal observations and contemporary folk remedies. This fact is supported by the limited similarity of nephrological remedies in Hildegard's Physica with the respective remedies in De Materia Medica.

[Medicinal evolution and modern research progress on Mume Fructus].

Prunus mume is an edible and medicinal material, and Mume Fructus is its processed product, which was first recorded in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing). It is an effective drug for stopping diarrhea with astringents and promoting fluid production to quiet ascaris. By consulting the ancient herbal works of the past dynasties, modern codes, and other rela-ted literature, this paper sorted out the medicinal evolution of Mume Fructus, examined the ancient efficacy of Mume Fructus and the main indications, and summarized the inclusion of Mume Fructus in national and provincial standards. It is recorded in the ancient herbal works of the past dynasties that Mume Fructus can be processed by various methods such as roasting, stir-frying or micro-frying, stir-frying with charcoal, single steaming, steaming with wine, and steaming after soaking in wine or vinegar, and prepared into pills, powders, and ointments, which are used in the treatment of fatigue, diabetes, malaria, dysentery, ascariasis, and other diseases. Mume Fructus has been included in nine editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia and 19 provincial and municipal preparation specifications. The processing method of Mume Fructus is determined, namely, clean P. mume should be softened by moistening in water or steaming and pitted. By reviewing the effects of processing on its chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and its modern clinical application, this paper identified the following issues. The ancient application methods of Mume Fructus are diverse but less commonly used in modern times, there is a lack of standardized research on the processing, and the research on the changes caused by the difference in Mume Fructus before and after processing is not deep. Therefore, it is necessary to further investigate the change pattern of its chemical composition before and after processing and its correlation between its medicinal activity to standardize the processing technology and provide a solid basis for the use of Mume Fructus in parts and its quality control.

A Pragmatic Historical Assessment Tool: A New Systematic Framework for the Collation and Evaluation of Documented Empirical Effectiveness and Safety of Traditional Plant Medicines in the European Materia Medica.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional plant medicines (TPMs) are plant-derived therapeutic products prepared and applied according to longstanding medical customs. Around the world they are widely used in primary and preventative health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls in its Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023 for Member States to provide a regulatory framework so that the formal contribution of traditional therapeutics can be advanced in national systems of health care. Evidence of effectiveness and safety is paramount for the regulatory integration of TPMs; however, a presumed lack of such "evidence" is one obstacle for full integration. The consequential health policy question is how to systematically evaluate therapeutic claims relating to herbal remedies when the extant evidence is predominantly based on historical and contemporary clinical usage, i.e., is empiricist in nature. This paper introduces a new method along with several illustrative examples. METHOD: Our research design employs a longitudinal, comparative textual analysis of standard textbooks of the professional European medical literature from the early modern period (1588/1664) onwards to today. It then triangulated these intergenerationally documented clinical observations on two exemplars (Arnica and St. John's Wort) with corresponding listings in multiple qualitative and quantitative sources. A Pragmatic Historical Assessment (PHA) tool was developed and tested as a method to systematically collate the large amount of pharmacological data recorded in these judiciously selected sources. The evidential validity of longstanding professional clinical knowledge could thus be compared with therapeutic indications approved in official and authoritative sources (pharmacopoeias, monographs) and with those supported by contemporary scientific research (randomised-controlled trials [RCTs], experimental research). RESULTS: There was high congruency between therapeutic indications that are based on repeated empirical observations from professional patient care (empirical evidence), those approved in pharmacopoeias and monographs, and modern scientific evidence based on RCTs. The extensive herbal triangulation confirmed parallel records of all main therapeutic indications of the exemplars across all qualitative and quantitative sources over the past 400 years. CONCLUSIONS: Historical clinical medical textbooks and contemporary phytotherapeutic equivalents are the key repository of repeatedly evaluated therapeutic plant knowledge. The professional clinical literature proved to be a reliable and verifiable body of empirical evidence that harmonised with contemporary scientific assessments. The newly developed PHA tool provides a coding framework for the systematic collation and evaluation of empirical data on the effectiveness and safety of TPMs. It is suggested as a feasible and efficient tool to extend evidence typologies that substantiate therapeutic claims for TPMs as part of an evidence-based regulatory framework that formally integrates these medically and culturally important therapeutics.Traditionelle pflanzliche Arzneimittel sind aus Pflanzen gewonnene Heilmittel, die gemäß langjähriger medizinischer Praxis zubereitet und angewendet werden. Weltweit sind sie in der primären und präventiven Gesundheitsversorgung weit verbreitet. Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) ruft in ihrer Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014­2023 die Mitgliedstaaten dazu auf, regulatorische Rahmenbedingungen zu schaffen, welche den formellen Beitrag traditioneller Therapeutika in den nationalen Gesundheitssystemen fördern. Der Nachweis von Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit ist von zentraler Bedeutung für die regulatorische Integration traditioneller pflanzlicher Arzneimittel, doch das angebliche Fehlen solcher "Nachweise" ist eine der Hürden für die vollständige Integration. Daraus ergibt sich die gesundheitspolitische Frage, wie man therapeutische Anwendungsgebiete pflanzlicher Heilmittel systematisch evaluieren kann, wenn die vorliegende Evidenz überwiegend auf deren historischer und aktueller klinischen Verwendung beruht, also empirischer Natur ist. In dieser Arbeit wird eine neue Methode mitsamt veranschaulichenden Beispielen vorgestellt.Unser Forschungsansatz beruhte auf einer longitudinalen, vergleichenden Textanalyse von Standard-Lehrwerken der europäischen medizinischen Fachliteratur ausgehend von der frühen Neuzeit (1588/1664) bis heute. Die über Generationen dokumentierten klinischen Beobachtungen wurden anhand von zwei Beispielen (Arnika and Johanniskraut) mit den diesbezüglichen Angaben in unterschiedlichen qualitativen und quantitativen Quellen trianguliert. Ein Pragmatisch­Historisches Auswertungstool (PHA) wurde als Methode entwickelt und getestet, um die großen Mengen der in diesen kritisch ausgewählten Quellen enthaltenen pharmakologischen Daten systematisch zu erfassen. Die Evidenzvalidität des langjährigen klinischen Fachwissens konnte so mit den therapeutischen Anwendungsgebieten verglichen werden, die in offiziellen und autoritativen Quellen (Pharmakopöen, Monografien) zugelassen sind, sowie mit denjenigen, die durch zeitgenössische wissenschaftliche Forschung gestützt werden (randomisierte kontrollierte Studien [RCTs], experimentelle Forschung).Es bestand ein hohes Maß an Kongruenz zwischen den therapeutischen Anwendungsgebieten, welche auf wiederholte empirische Beobachtung aus der professionellen Patientenversorgung beruhen (empirische Evidenz), den zugelassenen Indikationen in Pharmakopöen und Monographien sowie der aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Evidenz basierend auf klinischen Studien. Die umfassende pflanzenbezogene Triangulation bestätigte parallele Aufzeichnungen aller wesentlichen Anwendungsgebiete der untersuchten Beispiele in allen qualitativen und quantitativen Quellen über die letzten 400 Jahre hinweg.Historische Lehrbücher für klinische Medizin und zeitgenössische phytotherapeutische Äquivalente sind die wichtigsten Quellen von wiederholt evaluiertem therapeutischem Wissen zu Heilpflanzen. Die klinische Fachliteratur erwies sich als zuverlässiger und verifizierbarer Korpus empirischer Evidenz, der mit aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen übereinstimmte. Das neu entwickelte PHA-Verfahren bietet ein Kodierungs­Instrument für das systematische Erfassen und Auswerten empirischer Daten zur Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit von traditionellen pflanzlichen Arzneimitteln. Das PHA­Verfahren wird als praktikables und effizientes Instrument zur Erweiterung der Evidenz­Typologien empfohlen, indem es therapeutische Indikationen für traditionelle pflanzliche Arzneimittel untermauern kann, so dass diese medizinisch und kulturell wichtigen Therapeutika in einen evidenz-basierten regulatorischen Rahmen integriert werden können.

A comprehensive review of vine tea: Origin, research on Materia Medica, phytochemistry and pharmacology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vine tea is a popular folk tea that has been consumed in China for more than 1200 years. It is often used in ethnic medicine by ethnic groups in southwest China with at least 35 aliases in 10 provinces. In coastal areas, vine tea is mostly used to treat heatstroke, aphtha, aphonia, toothache, etc. In contrast, in the southwest inland regions, vine tea is mostly used to clear away heat and toxic materials, antiphlogosis and relieving sore-throat, lowering blood pressure and lipid levels, and alleviating fatigue. Three main species have been used as the source of vine tea, Nekemias grossedentata, Nekemias cantonensis and Nekemias megalophylla. Among them, the leaves of Nekemias grossedentata were considered as new food resource in complicance with regulations, according to the Food Safety Standards published by the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission in China. AIM OF THE STUDY: At present, the comprehensively summary of Materia Medica on the history and source of vine tea is currently unavailable. The current article summed up the Materia Medica, species origin and pharmacological effects of all 3 major species used in vine tea to fill the knowledge gaps. We also aim to provide a reference for future research on historical textual, resource development and medicinal utilization of vine tea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adhering to the literature screening methodology outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), this review encompasses 148 scholarly research papers from three database, paper ancient books, local chronicles and folklore through field investigations. We then comprehensively summarized and discussed research progresses in scientific and application studies of vine tea. RESULTS: The historical records indicated that vine tea could have been used as early as Southern and Northern Dynasties (AC 420-589). Nekemias grossedentata, Nekemias cantonensis and Nekemias megalophylla, were used to considered as vine tea in the ethnic medicine. The main phytochemicals found in three plants are flavonoids, polyphenols and terpenoids, among which dihydromyricetin (DHM) is the most important and most studied active substance. The key words "Ampelopsis grossedentata" (Synonym of Nekemias grossedentata) and "dihydromyricetin/DHM" showed the highest frequency over the last 27 year based on the research trend analysis. And the ethnopharmacology studies drawn the main activities of vine tea are antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-atherosclerosis activities. CONCLUSIONS: This review systematically summarized and discussed vine tea from the following five aspects, history, genetic relationship, phytochemistry, research trend and ethnopharmacology. Vine tea has a long historical usage in Chinese ethnic medicine. Its outstanding therapeutic efficacies have attracted extensive attention in other places in the world at present. Nekemias cantonensis and Nekemias megalophylla are quite similar to Nekemias grossedentata in terms of many aspects. However, the current research has a narrow focus on mainly Nekemias grossedentata and DHM. We propose that future studies could be carried out to determine the synergistic effect of multi-components and multi-targets of vine tea including all 3 species to provide valuable knowledge.

Efficacy of Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Treatment of Menopausal Syndrome: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Menopausal symptoms are systemic symptoms that are associated with estrogen deficiency after menopause. Although widely practiced, homeopathy remains under-researched in menopausal syndrome in terms of quality evidence, especially in randomized trials. The efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) was evaluated in this trial against placebos in the treatment of the menopausal syndrome. Design: Double-blind, randomized (1:1), two parallel arms, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India. Subjects: Sixty women with menopausal syndrome. Interventions: Group 1 (n = 30; IHMs plus concomitant care; verum) versus group 2 (n = 30; placebos plus concomitant care; control). Outcome measures: Primary-the Greene climacteric scale (GCS) total score and menopause rating scale (MRS) total score, and secondary-the Utian quality of life (UQOL) total score; all of them were measured at baseline and every month up to 3 months. Results: Intention-to-treat sample (n = 60) was analyzed. Group differences were examined by two-way (split-half) repeated-measure analysis of variance, primarily taking into account all the estimates measured at monthly intervals, and secondarily, by unpaired t tests comparing the estimates obtained individually every month. The level of significance was set at p < 0.025 two-tailed. Between-group differences were nonsignificant statistically-GCS total score (F1, 58 = 1.372, p = 0.246), MRS total score (F1, 58 = 0.720, p = 0.4), and UQOL total scores (F1, 58 = 2.903, p = 0.094). Some of the subscales preferred IHMs significantly against placebos-for example, MRS somatic subscale (F1, 56 = 0.466, p < 0.001), UQOL occupational subscale (F1, 58 = 4.865, p = 0.031), and UQOL health subscale (F1, 58 = 4.971, p = 0.030). Sulfur and Sepia succus were the most frequently prescribed medicines. No harm or serious adverse events were reported from either group. Conclusions: Although the primary analysis failed to demonstrate clearly that the treatment was effective beyond placebo, some significant benefits of IHMs over placebo could still be detected in some of the subscales in the secondary analysis. Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2019/10/021634.

How Did the Clinical Medicine Progress during the Unified Silla Era: Installment of the Medical Education Center 'Uihak', and Its Effects.

In this research, I aimed to recognize the historical meaning of installing the medical education center, 'Uihak', during the Silla dynasty. 'Uihak' was installed in 692, in the first year of King Hyoso 's rule. 'Uihak' was founded by using various Chinese medical classics as its textbooks for medical education, such as the Classic of Plain Questions. The wooden prescriptions excavated from Anapji, which is thought to have been created in the middle of the 8th century, and the Chinese medical book Prescriptions for Universal Benefit, which the envoy of Silla tried to acquire in 803, reflect the idea on medicine during that period in Silla. By this time, the field of medicine began to develop the idea to discern the locations and mechanism of disease patterns by centering on the viscera and bowels while making use of the herbal prescriptions based on various drugs. This means that clinical medicine founded upon the medical education achieved in 'Uihak' was being realized in the medical fields as well. According to the Chronicles of the Three States, for the illness of Queen Sunduk in 636, medicine, praying, and the method of esoteric Buddhism was tried out as a means of her cure. Comparatively, for the treatment of the first rank Chunggong in 822, the Kingdom's representative doctor with professional medical knowledge was sought out to fine a cure. The analyses of the human disease, diagnosis, treatment method, etc., given by the kingdom's representative doctor were identical to those recommended in the medical textbooks used in 'Uihak'. As such, we can posit that his academic background was 'Uihak' and the education given there. The Classic of Materia Medica, which was also used in 'Uihak', was a book professionally centered on the drug branch of medicine. The Classic of Materia Medica is a terminology referring to various books on drugs, including the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, the Variorum of the Classic of Materia Medica, the Newly Revised Materia Medica, etc. Thus, we cannot specify what the classic of Materia Medica actually taught, based on only its terminology. However, based on the wooden prescriptions excavated from Anapji, and from the terminology of drugs recorded in the drug trading document Purchase List for Silla goods preserved in Shosoin of Japan, we can hypothesize that in the middle of the 8th century, the Newly Revised Materia Medica was indeed being circulated. Based on these evidences, we can also hypothesize that Silla was part of the network of drug trading that encompassed the entire region of Asia. After unifying the Korean peninsula, the Kingdom of Silla actively adopted the medical educational system of Tang China. By using the obtained medical knowledge, Silla cured illnesses and used the medical knowledge on various drugs recorded in the Newly Revised Materia Medica to pursue trade with China, Japan, and other countries. Through the installation of 'Uihak', the same medicine has now begun to be officially used in East Asia, including Silla.

[Slicing specifications in general rule of processing in Chinese Pharmacopoeia from slicing development of Chinese materia medica processed product and thinking and suggestion on slicing techniques].

Slicing is critical in the processing of Chinese materia medica(CMM) processed product and the specification(thickness) is closely related to the quality of the decoction. On the basis of clarifying the concept and evolution of slicing of CMM processed product by reviewing the Chinese herbal classics of the past dynasties and general rules of local processing standards, this study discussed the development history of slicing specifications in general rules of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), analyzed the current situation and key problems, and proposed the thinking and suggestion on promoting the sound development of slicing of CMM processed product. Since 2000, the slicing thickness of CMM processed product in the general rules of local CMM processed product processing specifications newly revised and issued by 27 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities has been consistent with that in the general rules of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). The standard that the thickness of extremely thin pieces is less than 0.5 mm is rarely retained, and the pieces in 0.5-1 mm thickness have not been found on the market, which is consistent with the provisions of the general rules of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. This study can provide a historical and modern basis for the rationality of slicing of CMM processed product.

[Traditional Chinese medicine health care from "long term taking" drugs in Shen Nong's Classic of Materia Medica].

"Taking drugs for a long term" is a qualitative expression of medication method based on the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine, and the study on it is conducive to the full utilization of the efficacy and rational use of drugs. There are 148 drugs that can be taken for a long time recorded in Shen Nong's Classic of Materia Medica, accounting for 41% of the total drugs. This paper analyzed three-grade classification, natural qualities, four properties and five flavors, and efficacy features of the "long-term taking" drugs(LTTD), thus exploring the herbal source of traditional Chinese medicine health care and the rationality of effect accumulation by long-term taking. It was found that there were more than 110 top-grade LTTD in Shen Nong's Classic of Materia Medica, most of which were herbs, with sweet flavor, flat property, and no toxicity. The efficacies were mainly making body feel light and agile(Qingshen) and prolonging life. Eighty-three LTTD were included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). In the modern classification, tonic LTTD accounted for the most, followed by damp-draining diuretic LTTD and exterior-releasing LTTD. Twenty LTTD were included in the "List of Medicinal and Edible Products" and 21 were in the "List of Products Used for Health-care Food", involving in various modern health care effects, such as enhancing immunity, assisting in reducing blood lipids, and anti-oxidation. Shen Nong's Classic of Materia Medica is the classic source of traditional Chinese medicine health care, and its medication thought of taking drugs for a long term to accumulate effects has guiding significance for the regulation of sub-health and chronic diseases nowadays. The efficacy and safety of LTTD have been examined in practice for a long time, and some of the drugs are edible, which is unique in the whole cycle of health-care service, especially in line with the health-care needs in the aging society under the concept of Big Health. However, some records in the book are limited by the understanding of the times, which should be scientifically studied according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and the related regulations and technical requirements, under the attitude of eliminating falsifications and preserving the truth and keeping the right essence, so as to achieve further improvement, innovation, and development.

Avicenna's clinical toxicology approach and beneficial materia medica against oral poisoning.

Considering the rich background of Persian Medicine in the use of materia medica for the treatment of diseases, the huge burden of oral poisonings in the world, and the urgent need to find scientific solutions, the purpose of this study was to determine Avicenna's approach toward clinical toxicology and his proposed treatments for oral poisonings. In Al-Qanun Fi Al-Tibb, Avicenna addressed the materia medica for the treatments of oral poisonings after explaining the ingestion of different toxins and also elucidating the clinical toxicology approach toward poisoned patients. These materia medica were from different classes including emetics, purgatives, enemas, diaphoretics, antidiarrheals, inhaled drugs, sternutators, anticoagulants, antiepileptics, antitussives, diuretics, cooling drugs, stimulants, cardiotonic drugs, and heating oils. By applying different therapies, Avicenna endeavored to attain main goals in clinical toxicology that are comparable with modern medicine. They included removing the toxins from the body, decreasing the severity of the deleterious effects of toxins on the body, and counteracting the effects of toxins inside the body. Aside from introducing different therapeutic agents that played an important role in the treatment of oral poisonings, he emphasized the ameliorating effects of nutritive foods and beverages. Further research using other Persian medical resources is recommended to elucidate the applicable approaches and treatments for different poisonings.

Characterization of Calculus bovis by principal component analysis assisted qHNMR profiling to distinguish nefarious frauds.

A new approach is developed for the reliable classification of Calculus bovis along with the identification of willfully contaminated C. bovis species and the quantification of unclaimed adulterants. Guided by a principal component analysis, NMR data mining achieved a near-holistic chemical characterization of three types of authenticated C. bovis, including natural C. bovis (NCB), in vitro cultured C. bovis (Ivt-CCB), and artificial C. bovis (ACB). In addition, species-specific markers used for quality evaluation and species classification were confirmed. That is, the content of taurine in NCB is near negligible, while choline and hyodeoxycholic acid are characteristic for identifying Ivt-CCB and ACB, respectively. Besides, the peak shapes and chemical shifts of H2-25 of glycocholic acid could assist in the recognition of the origins of C. bovis. Based on these discoveries, a set of commercial NCB samples, macroscopically identified as problematic species, was examined with deliberately added sugars and outliers discovered. Absolute quantification of the identified sugars was realized by qHNMR using a single, nonidentical internal calibrant (IC). This study represents the first systematic study of C. bovis metabolomics via an NMR-driven methodology, which advances the toolbox for quality control of TCM and provides a more definitive reference point for future chemical and biological studies of C. bovis as a valuable materia medica.