The proportion of Chinese stricken with hepatitis every year is the highest of any nation in the world. Specialists within the country have been racking their brains for years trying to come up with a way to remove this proverbial thorn in the side. Just as Western medical techniques seemed to have reached an impasse in attempting to deal with this particular illness, it was discovered that the Chinese herbal medicine ch'ai-hu (Bupleuri radix), is an effective agent in combating the disease. Despite the reluctance of Western physicians to accept ch'ai-hu as a substance of true medicinal value, when the facts are placed before them they cannot but admit to its effectiveness.

"The use of natural 'raw medicines' (also known as 'crude drugs') to treat illness has been in existence since ancient times," says Lin Chun-ching, professor of pharmacology at Kaohsiung Medical College. According to Professor Lin, the reason that such "raw medicines" have been in use for so long is simply because so many people believe they "get results." But it is precisely the fact that we perceive that they work, while not knowing just how they work, that leaves them steeped in so much controversy.

Concerned physicians like Lin Chun- ching have therefore begun the painstaking process of analyzing their medical functioning. "The first concept that needs to be corrected," says Dr. Lin, "is that what is presently called 'Chinese medicine' should actually be labelled 'raw medicine.'" What is meant by "raw medicine" is the taking of a substance from the natural world and applying it, either in whole or in part, in its original form or after some simple processing, as a medicine. These substances are taken from a variety of animal, plant, and mineral sources.

It was not until around the turn of the century that people started calling this kind of medicine "Chinese medicine," which is an inaccurate way of putting it. As Lin Chun-ching points out, ancient folk medicine can be divided into four major systems: Arabian, Indian, Greek, and Chinese. The largest point of commonality between these four systems is in the use of natural medicine. With the growth of the silk road and expansion of East-West trade, mutual exchanges of these substances began to take place. Such natural medicines as walnut, clove, and sandalwood were gradually introduced to China through Persia, India, and Central Asia. "These plants are not actually native to China, so of course we cannot rightly call them 'Chinese medicine.'"

In the Taiwan raw medicine market, two varieties of ch'ai-hu have always been the most in demand. One of these is "northern ch'ai-hu," which is grown in Tientsin; the other comes originally from Japan but is now cultivated locally and is known as "three-island ch'ai-hu." Recently, however, a newcomer to the market--"kao-shih ch'ai-hu"--has considerably lowered the standing of these two varieties.

One day not long ago an herb-gatherer from Miaoli brought a basketful of herbs into Dr. Lin's office for appraisal, whereupon Dr. Lin discovered an herb which looked remarkably like the three-island variety of ch'ai-hu. Within moments the two of them were on their way back to the herb gatherer's collection site. Now wild herbs do not grow in open fields, nor do they thrive on grassy hillsides; they are rather to be found rooted in the deepest reaches of the wilds. After many hours of laborious searching, Professor Lin found what he was looking for. With joyful surprise he exclaimed, "It's none other than Taiwan's indigenous, long-supposed to be-extinct kao-shih chai-hu.!"

Back in his laboratory, Dr. Lin did a comparative analysis of his wild kao-shih ch'ai-hu and some samples of the northern and three-island varieties. He was astonished to find that the Kao-shih ch'ai-hu far surpassed the northern variety in terms of both quality and medical effectiveness. Furthermore, due to the differing climate and soil conditions of Taiwan, the three-island seeds imported from Japan had never had more than a twenty percent sprouting rate; while the kao-shih ch'ai-hu appears to be especially easy to raise, regardless of whether it is planted on dry, barren land or in the most fertile of fields.

At present Dr. Lin is experimenting with cultivation methods. He hopes in the future to guide area farmers in developing mass cultivation of the kao-shih ch'ai-hu. Judging from present demand in both local and foreign markets, this plant could well become the "one soldier who decides the battle" in gaining world-wide acceptance of raw medicine.

"The natural resources in raw medicines on Taiwan are incredibly rich, we are merely awaiting the full development of their potential," says Professor Lin. "What are for the time being incurable diseases may be curable tomorrow, thanks to raw medicine."

[Picture Caption]

This is none other than Taiwan's own long-supposed-to-be-extinct herbal pride, kao-shih chai-hu.

Associate Professor Lin Chun-ching looks for the answers to medicinal mysteries in the "raw medicines" under his microscope.

This collection of "raw medicines" causes many to stand and gape--Can hedgehog skin and turtle shells really be medicine!?

Associate Professor Lin Chun-ching looks for the answers to medicinal mysteries in the "raw medicines" under his microscope.

This collection of "raw medicines" causes many to stand and gape--Can hedgehog skin and turtle shells really be medicine!?