Headaches in naming Chinese Medicinals

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

As follow-up to my note on the Chinese Single Herb database -

http://www.zysj.com.cn/zhongyaocai/indexA.html - the more I look at

Chinese data on herbs, the more I realise that they pose serious pitfalls for

those who cannot read Chinese [which I cannot at this stage]:

 

(1) Specific / closely-related botanical species can have multiple (2-40 or

more) Chinese names, multiple Latin Names and MUltiple Common names.

 

For example, Inula~ Japanese / Linearleaf / British Fl (Inula~ britannica /

chinensis / chrysantha / helianthus- aquatilis / Hupehensis / japonica /

royleana Fl) has 39 Chinese names:

Xuanfuhua , aka 38 other aliases:

Aiju

Baiyecao

Chiyexuanfuhua

Dahuaxuanfuhua

Daizhen

Daogeng

Didijin

Dieluohuang

Feitianrui

Fu

Fuhua

Fuhua

Guzihua

Huangshuhua

Hubeichaoyanghua

JinFix:Fo;FuHua

Jinfeicao [Quancao]

Jinfeihua

Jinfuhua

Jinqianhua

Jinqianju

Jinzhanhua

Liuyueju

Lu´ercai

Lu´ercao

Lu´erduohua

Mantianxing

Mao´erduohua

Maoxuanfuhua

Quanfuhua

Shengzhen

Shuichaoyanghua

Shuikuihua

Xiaju

Xianyexuanfuhua

Xiaohuanghua

Xiaohuanghuazi

Yeyouhua

 

(2) Specific Chinese characters and Pinyin names can refer to totally

different botanical species.

 

For example, Xuerenshen can refer to two different plant species:

Lespedeza~ Buerger Rx; Bushclover~ Chinese Rx (Lespedezae buergeri

Rx)

OR

Indigo~ Velutinous Rx (Indigoferae stachyoidis Rx)

 

(2) Specific unaccented Pinyin names can have different Chinese characters

and refer to totally different botanical species.

 

For example,

Xuerenshen usually refers to Lespedeza~ Buerger Rx; Bushclover~

Chinese Rx (Lespedezae buergeri

whereas:

Xuerenshen [same Pinyin name but different Chinese characters]

usually refers to Indigo~ Velutinous Rx (Indigoferae stachyoidis Rx)

 

The more I look at Chinese herbal data, the bigger headache I get!

 

(1) If we are to use Chinese herbs safely and accurately, IMO, when

ordering them from reputable suppliers, we should ROUTINELY specify their

names in FOUR WAYS: Pinyin Name, Chinese Characters, Latin Name

AND Common Name, for example: Hongrenshen (, Panacis Ginseng

Rx Rubrum; Ginseng~ Red Rx)

 

(2) For added safety [to ensure that we use what we THINK we should be

using], the herbal profession should pressurize Cinese herb suppliers to

LABEL each herb container in the same way - viz, with the Pinyin Name,

Chinese Characters, Latin Name AND Common Name.

 

(3) Additionally, the accompanying datasheet should specify:

the main clinical indications (both classical Chinese Patterns and western

clinical indications);

recommended dosage;

known adverse effects (if any);

known herb / herb and herb / western drug interactions (if any);

cautions and contraindications, etc.

 

Best regards,