Iatrology of Zhuang Ethnic Minority

According to the statistics from 1983 to 1987, the herbal medicines in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (South China) alone amount to 4,623 kinds, of which 4,064 kinds are plant herbs, 509 kinds are animal medicines, and 50 are mineral medicines, ranking second in China. Medicines commonly used by the Zhuang doctors are as many as 709 kinds.

The wide application of poisonous and alexipharmic (antidote to poison) herbs is an important character of and a prominent contribution to Zhuang iatrology.

The Zhuang medicine resources such as Grosvenor momordica, cinnamon, aniseed, and honeysuckle have good prospects of development. In addition, specialists have paid great attention to the development and comprehensive use of pseudo-ginseng.

Some Chinese patent medicines, such as medicine for setting bones, Yunxiangjing, and pills for traumatic injuries, have formed a certain production scale in Guangxi Zhuang. They are mostly developed based on the Zhuang prescriptions or other folk secret recipes.