Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and Reconciliation

As the practice of traditional Chinese medicine developed in the United States since the 1970s, evidence has accumulated suggesting that an undetermined number of the herbs of the Chinese Materia Medica could be produced in North America. While some attempts have been made to establish production, g...

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Main Author: Jean Giblette
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW 2022-12-01
Series:Chinese Medicine and Culture
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/MC9.0000000000000037
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author Jean Giblette
author_facet Jean Giblette
author_sort Jean Giblette
collection DOAJ
description As the practice of traditional Chinese medicine developed in the United States since the 1970s, evidence has accumulated suggesting that an undetermined number of the herbs of the Chinese Materia Medica could be produced in North America. While some attempts have been made to establish production, growers are inhibited by lack of access to capital and technical support. The evidence in support of US domestic production – including (1) historical, (2) sociological, (3) ecological, and (4) agronomic factors – is reviewed. Economic obstacles to this type of production are described, as directly experienced by the farmers, Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, and organizers involved. When analyzed in reference to current trends, however, these economic obstacles appear, at least potentially, as temporary. Because popular demand supported the rise of traditional Chinese medicine practice and the growth of organic food production, these social movements could expand and promote conditions that favor domestic production of Chinese herbs.
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spelling doaj-art-380de93e37bb4e91a7ec11bf96b39bc12025-08-20T02:16:56ZengWolters Kluwer Health/LWWChinese Medicine and Culture2589-96272022-12-015423424010.1097/MC9.0000000000000037202212000-00007Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and ReconciliationJean Giblette0High Falls Foundation Inc., Philmont 12565, USAAs the practice of traditional Chinese medicine developed in the United States since the 1970s, evidence has accumulated suggesting that an undetermined number of the herbs of the Chinese Materia Medica could be produced in North America. While some attempts have been made to establish production, growers are inhibited by lack of access to capital and technical support. The evidence in support of US domestic production – including (1) historical, (2) sociological, (3) ecological, and (4) agronomic factors – is reviewed. Economic obstacles to this type of production are described, as directly experienced by the farmers, Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, and organizers involved. When analyzed in reference to current trends, however, these economic obstacles appear, at least potentially, as temporary. Because popular demand supported the rise of traditional Chinese medicine practice and the growth of organic food production, these social movements could expand and promote conditions that favor domestic production of Chinese herbs.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/MC9.0000000000000037
spellingShingle Jean Giblette
Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and Reconciliation
Chinese Medicine and Culture
title Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and Reconciliation
title_full Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and Reconciliation
title_fullStr Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and Reconciliation
title_full_unstemmed Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and Reconciliation
title_short Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America: Challenge and Reconciliation
title_sort production of chinese medicinal herbs in north america challenge and reconciliation
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/MC9.0000000000000037
work_keys_str_mv AT jeangiblette productionofchinesemedicinalherbsinnorthamericachallengeandreconciliation