Benchmarks for Training in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The origin and principles of traditional Chinese medicineThe first official TCM school, the Imperial Medical School (Tai Yi Shu), wasfounded in China in 624 AD. The school consisted of eight dispensers (Zhu Yao)and 24 assistant dispensers (Yao Tong) of TCM who were responsible for ChineseMateria Medica processing and dispensing. From the Song to Yuan Dynasties(960 – 1368 AD), the specific pharmaceutical affairs agencies were set up and an“Exchange Act” (Shi Yi Fa) was developed to regulate the Chinese MateriaMedica trade and national patents/registrations. According to this Act, thenational pharmaceutical administration developed regulations for quality testing,distribution, and the application of TCM (6).Over the last 100 years, a number of TCM textbooks and monographs onprocessing, preparation, identification, pharmacology and toxicology have beencompiled and published. Higher education is now available in TCMuniversities/colleges throughout China. Education and research on TCM inChina has been well documented.Traditional Chinese medicines include not only medicinal plants, but alsominerals and animal products. Their dispensing and distribution are guided byTCM theory and many require preparing and processing prior to clinicalapplication. The processing and preparation procedures may influence thetherapeutic properties and reduce toxicity.5