Growing for Growth: Medicinal Chinese Herbs and Vegetables are Gaining in Popularity
When many of us think of Chinese medicine, we tend to think of acupuncture rather than vegetables and herbs. Herbal remedies are the cornerstone of Chinese medicine and are now increasingly used in alternative and even mainstream medicine in North America. The trend can produce opportunities for growers who want to service this growing and lucrative market.
Chinese medicine predates our European-derived systems of healing with more than 4,000 years of testing in some cases. Since 2,000 B.C., herbal preparations have been used in China to treat a wide variety of ailments. The use of such substances was refined and developed, and by about A.D. 659 . . . the Chinese Penstao emerged that listed the herbal components and described their actions and properties.
The properties and functions of Chinese medicines is an esoteric and complex subject. The philosophy and vernacular of Chinese medicine, including the Penstao, is based on the yin-and-yang theory that can be traced back to the Book of I Ching.
