herb nomenclature, quality control

[Guest guest]

Here is my own wish list for herbal distributors:

 

(1) All packages should be labeled with the Chinese characters for the herb and

grade/quality, the Latin taxonomic name, the plant or animal part, the

processing method (i.e., ginger or alum-treated pinellia), and the batch or lot

number (in event tracking is necessary).

Regarding the Latin taxonomic names, students and many practitioners resist

learning the taxonomic names, even though I feel these are important.

Simplifying the Latinized nomenclature seems to be a good idea. Although no one

speaks Latin anymore - it is a dead language - the taxonomic names have long

been the international standard in botany and zoology, and this will not change.

This fussing over genitive vs. nominative forms of the name elements is

confusing. Why not do as most Western-style herbalists do? - for example:

rhizome of Smilax glabra

or

Smilax glabra, rhizome

The problem with the " proper " Latin form of

Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae

is that most students unfamiliar with Latin grammar may think that " Smilax " and

" Smilacis " refer to different genera, when they are merely the nominative and

genitive forms of the same genus name. Or they may have trouble distinguishing

the genus term from the plant part (i.e., " Concretio Silicea Bambusae " would

become " silicated concretions of Bambusa " )

On the other hand:

Radix Polygonati - as in Polygonatum (huang jing)

and

Radix Polygoni - as in Polygonum multiflorum (he shou wu)

are two distinct genera, an important distinction. The latter type of important

distinctions tend to become blurred by the nominative/genitive confusions, so it

makes sense to do away with the latter in herbal nomenclature.

 

 

(2) The species should be verified by the importer or distributor using a

combination of visual, microscopic, and chemo-taxonomic methods, where

appropriate.

 

 

(3) Herbs should be screened for known commercial pesticides used on specific

herbs, and for heavy metal content.

As China rapidly industrializes, its agricultural products are

increasingly prone to contamination, and regular testing by American importers

would send a message to the Chinese that this is an important consideration for

the American market. (Such concerns will also indirectly benefit the Chinese

farm workers and people.)

 

 

I once received a batch of Bulbus Tulipi (shan ci gu) - though the Chinese

characters were correct, it was labeled as " Radix Milettiae " . This type of error

is dangerous, and I've seen it frequently.

Springwind Herbs is one company that I know takes labeling seriously, and I've

never seen an error of this type on their raw herbs. I also recommend them to my

students because of their frequent testing for heavy metals and pesticides.

 

 

---Roger Wicke, PhD, TCM Clinical Herbalist

contact: www.rmhiherbal.org/contact/

Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute, Hot Springs, Montana USA

Clinical herbology training programs - www.rmhiherbal.org