The integration of processing of Chinese medicinal materials and production of decoction pieces has advantages

Medical Network, July 27th, the processing of the origin of Chinese medicinal materials refers to the use of Chinese medicinal materials in the place of production for the purpose of preventing moldy and loss of ingredients, removing impurities and non-medicinal parts, facilitating drying and packaging, and facilitating storage and logistics transportation.
The process of freshly cutting raw medicinal materials into slices, segments, blocks, strips, dices, silks, petals and other shapes (that is, raw medicinal materials that only change the shape without changing their chemical properties)
.

 

Origin has a long history of initial processing

 

In August 2019, the Gansu Provincial Food and Drug Administration issued standards for processed tablets of angelica and other five origins and technical specifications for production of tablets, which will be implemented on October 1, 2019
.
This standard is a good start for qualitative processing of the origin of Chinese medicinal materials and legalization of the origin of Chinese medicinal materials, and is in line with the development direction and trend of the Chinese medicinal materials industry
.

 

According to the author’s understanding, the standards and processing specifications of these five production areas are well implemented in Gansu Province.
At present, the ratio of angelica and Codonopsis in the production area accounts for about 35% to 40% of the total raw medicinal materials, while licorice, astragalus, and red It is as high as more than 50%
.
In addition, more and more varieties of Scutellaria baicalensis, Bupleurum, Fangfeng, Lihuo, Rhubarb, Radix Isatidis are cut into pieces and sold at the production area, which not only brings benefits to the common people, but also improves the quality of the products
.

 

　　Chinese herbal medicine is distal agricultural harvest, the rear end becomes medicines , Chinese herbal medicines used in an amount of 80% belonging to cultivated varieties
.
At present, the degree of mechanization of processing and slicing of Chinese medicinal materials has been continuously improved, and the amount of slices has been increasing
.

 

　　The initial processing of Chinese medicinal materials, especially authentic medicinal materials, has a very long history
.
At present, most of the processors in the producing areas of Chinese medicinal materials are still farmers.
The fresh medicinal materials planted and mined by farmers are easily spoiled if no one buys them or is not purchased in time.
Therefore, many medicinal farmers choose to perform primary processing on their own to prevent the medicinal materials from spoiling
.

 

　　Origin processing needs to be further regulated

 

　　The processing threshold for the production area of ​​Chinese medicinal materials is low, and the participants are mostly farmers.
Therefore, the production area processing urgently needs to strengthen supervision
.

 

　　At present, there are more than 600 kinds of Chinese medicinal materials commonly used in China, of which more than 300 have been artificially planted and cultivated.
The planting area is nearly 90 million mu, accounting for 80% of the consumption of Chinese medicinal materials
.
It is very common for Chinese medicinal materials to be directly processed into tablets at the place of production
.
The production area of ​​Chinese medicinal materials and the production of decoction pieces are two closely linked links in the production of traditional Chinese medicine.
From a historical point of view, they are basically integrated.
There is no obvious distinction and boundary between many varieties of original medicinal materials and decoction pieces
.
In the market economy era, the circulation of Chinese medicinal materials has increased, but the production areas are scattered and the production areas are small, and the production areas are remote and difficult to concentrate.
In order to prevent the deterioration of fresh medicinal materials in the production area, the demarcation and distinction between the initial processing of the production area and the processing of decoction pieces has been gradually separated artificially.
Become a two-stage independent processing technology system
.
Although this facilitates the storage and long-distance transportation of the medicinal materials, it ignores the inherent law of the formation of the quality of medicinal materials
.

 

　　Since 2017, the planting and processing of Chinese medicinal materials has become an important measure for poverty alleviation through industrialization
.
Driven by the national poverty alleviation policy, all 592 impoverished counties across the country developed the cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials
.
The government of the place of origin supports the processing of the place of origin to enable it to develop rapidly and its market share continues to expand
.

 

　　The 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Pharmacopoeia) stipulates 68 kinds of Chinese medicinal materials that can be processed while they are fresh, of which 29 kinds can be sliced
.
However, it is understood that there are many varieties that are actually sliced ​​in the production area, such as licorice, astragalus, codonopsis, angelica, yam, rehmannia, isatis root, salvia, scutellaria, platycodon, angelica, atractylodes, white peony, chuanxiong, etc.
, which have exceeded the varieties specified in the pharmacopoeia.
Range
.
The author believes that, from a realistic point of view, the complete liberalization of the processing of Chinese medicinal materials while they are fresh may become a trend in the development of the industry
.
As early as 2015, the Ministry and other 12 departments jointly issued the "protection and development of Chinese herbal medicines Plan (2015-2020)" clearly to promote the early origin of Chinese herbal medicine processing standardization, scale, intensive, encourage Chinese medicine production enterprises to the herbs The production area extends the industrial chain, and carries out fresh cutting and deep processing
.
It can be predicted that the range of varieties processed by taking advantage of the freshness will gradually expand
.

 

　　Significant advantages of integrated processing

 

　　The integration of origin processing and decoction pieces production is conducive to the development of the industry
.

 

　　Processing while they are fresh can reduce the loss of active ingredients in Chinese medicinal materials
.
In fact, most Chinese medicinal materials can be processed and sliced ​​while they are fresh, and the quality is significantly better than the slices processed after soaking and softening
.
For example, dry day/hemp/ is not easy to moisturize, the slice shape is poor after cutting; hematoxylin is difficult to cut after drying, and the effective ingredients are easy to lose during the moistening process; When transported to the decoction piece factory for reprocessing, it must be moisturized or even soaked for a long time before it can be cut, which will inevitably lead to the loss of active ingredients
.
At present, most of the main production areas of Chinese medicinal materials are in remote rural areas.
The direct processing of Chinese medicinal materials into tablets at the place of production can greatly reduce labor costs.
In addition to creating jobs and increasing income for remote areas, it can also reduce logistics costs
.
Chinese medicinal materials are removed from the place of production and cut into pieces, and then enter the circulation link, which can reduce logistics costs and reduce garbage for the city
.

 

　　In recent years, the integration of the production of Chinese medicinal materials and the production of decoction pieces has also become the consensus of many people
.
Move the decoction piece factory to the main producing area of ​​authentic medicinal materials, and make it clear that only one or three to five local authentic medicinal materials are processed.
The advantages of integrated processing are more obvious: only one authentic medicinal material, mechanical processing and quality Low investment in inspection equipment, less reference materials and inspection personnel, less investment, low risk, and high return, which is convenient for enterprises to put into production, become more refined and specialized, and become bigger and stronger; the production area processing and the decoction piece production are intersected in technology, and there is no obvious boundary Distinguished, integration can reduce multiple water soaking and repeated drying processes, and avoid the loss of active ingredients and content; integrated processing can reduce the loss of medicinal materials, save energy, and can also greatly reduce labor costs, improve production efficiency and economic benefits ; It can ensure that the source of medicinal materials is clear and the quality is stable, which is conducive to traceability and grading circulation, which greatly reduces logistics costs; it can combine the production and planting specifications of Chinese medicinal materials with the production specifications of decoction pieces, which is conducive to the uniformity and control of quality and the formation of quality, thereby ensuring The quality and clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine decoction pieces; at the same time, it is convenient for the supervision department to supervise
.

 

　　Regarding the integration of origin processing and decoction pieces production, the author proposes to build a batch of single-variety decoction pieces factories and regional decoction pieces factories in the main producing areas of authentic medicinal materials, and concentrate and divert flows through the storage and logistics base of Chinese medicinal materials to achieve "Internet +" unified national distribution Directly with one station
.

 

　　A single-variety decoction piece factory refers to a decoction piece factory that produces only one or a few varieties
.
For example, the construction of a "Dangshen Decoction Pieces Factory" and "Danggui Decoction Pieces Factory" that only produce a single variety in Gansu; the construction of a "Chuanxiong Decoction Pieces Factory" and a Alisma Decoction Pieces Factory in Sichuan; the construction of a "White Peony Decoction Pieces Factory" in Bozhou; Decoction Piece Factory" and so on
.
A regional decoction piece factory refers to a decoction piece factory that only produces authentic medicinal materials in the region
.
For example, the Huaiyao Decoction Pieces Factory only produces four major Huaiyao decoction pieces; there are also "pan five flavors", "jian six flavors", and "xiang nine flavors".
Each factory only produces a few local authentic medicinal materials
.
The realization of integrated processing in the place of production is in line with China's national conditions and the essence and characteristics of Chinese medicine culture, which is very beneficial to the development of the Chinese herbal medicine industry
.

 

　　In fact, some leading companies have begun to deploy here, but it should be pointed out that the integration process cannot be accomplished overnight.
It needs to be treated differently according to the source and attributes of the medicinal materials, and the range of varieties cannot be expanded blindly
.
Integration must carefully study the key technology and quality control process in the processing of each medicinal material, and we must work hard to reduce the loss of active ingredients, truly reduce processing links and improve the quality of decoction pieces; integration is not the production link of production area processing and decoction pieces production.
The simple docking of traditional Chinese medicinal materials requires a reasonable integrated study of the production area of ​​Chinese medicinal materials and the production of decoction pieces.
It is demand-oriented and quality-oriented to ensure the healthy and steady development of the integration process
.

 

　　 (The author is the deputy director of the Expert Committee on Planting and Cultivation of Chinese Medicinal Materials, China Association of Chinese Medicines)

　　Medical Network, July 27th, the processing of the origin of Chinese medicinal materials refers to the use of Chinese medicinal materials in the place of production for the purpose of preventing moldy and loss of ingredients, removing impurities and non-medicinal parts, facilitating drying and packaging, and facilitating storage and logistics transportation.
The process of freshly cutting raw medicinal materials into slices, segments, blocks, strips, dices, silks, petals and other shapes (that is, raw medicinal materials that only change the shape without changing their chemical properties)
.

 

　　Origin has a long history of initial processing

 

　　In August 2019, the Gansu Provincial Food and Drug Administration issued standards for processed tablets of angelica and other five origins and technical specifications for production of tablets, which will be implemented on October 1, 2019
.
This standard is a good start for qualitative processing of the origin of Chinese medicinal materials and legalization of the origin of Chinese medicinal materials, and is in line with the development direction and trend of the Chinese medicinal materials industry
.

 

　　According to the author’s understanding, the standards and processing specifications of these five production areas are well implemented in Gansu Province.
At present, the ratio of angelica and Codonopsis in the production area accounts for about 35% to 40% of the total raw medicinal materials, while licorice, astragalus, and red It is as high as more than 50%
.
In addition, more and more varieties of Scutellaria baicalensis, Bupleurum, Fangfeng, Lihuo, Rhubarb, Radix Isatidis are cut into pieces and sold at the production area, which not only brings benefits to the common people, but also improves the quality of the products
.

 

　　Chinese herbal medicine is distal agricultural harvest, the rear end becomes medicines , Chinese herbal medicines used in an amount of 80% belonging to cultivated varieties
.
At present, the degree of mechanization of processing and slicing of Chinese medicinal materials has been continuously improved, and the amount of slices has been increasing
.

 

　　The initial processing of Chinese medicinal materials, especially authentic medicinal materials, has a very long history
.
At present, most of the processors in the producing areas of Chinese medicinal materials are still farmers.
The fresh medicinal materials planted and mined by farmers are easily spoiled if no one buys them or is not purchased in time.
Therefore, many medicinal farmers choose to perform primary processing on their own to prevent the medicinal materials from spoiling
.

 

　　Origin processing needs to be further regulated

 

　　The processing threshold for the production area of ​​Chinese medicinal materials is low, and the participants are mostly farmers.
Therefore, the production area processing urgently needs to strengthen supervision
.

 

　　At present, there are more than 600 kinds of Chinese medicinal materials commonly used in China, of which more than 300 have been artificially planted and cultivated.
The planting area is nearly 90 million mu, accounting for 80% of the consumption of Chinese medicinal materials
.
It is very common for Chinese medicinal materials to be directly processed into tablets at the place of production
.
The production area of ​​Chinese medicinal materials and the production of decoction pieces are two closely linked links in the production of traditional Chinese medicine.
From a historical point of view, they are basically integrated.
There is no obvious distinction and boundary between many varieties of original medicinal materials and decoction pieces
.
In the market economy era, the circulation of Chinese medicinal materials has increased, but the production areas are scattered and the production areas are small, and the production areas are remote and difficult to concentrate.
In order to prevent the deterioration of fresh medicinal materials in the production area, the demarcation and distinction between the initial processing of the production area and the processing of decoction pieces has been gradually separated artificially.
Become a two-stage independent processing technology system
.
Although this facilitates the storage and long-distance transportation of the medicinal materials, it ignores the inherent law of the formation of the quality of medicinal materials
.

 

　　Since 2017, the planting and processing of Chinese medicinal materials has become an important measure for poverty alleviation through industrialization
.
Driven by the national poverty alleviation policy, all 592 impoverished counties across the country developed the cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials
.
The government of the place of origin supports the processing of the place of origin to enable it to develop rapidly and its market share continues to expand
.

 

　　The 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Pharmacopoeia) stipulates 68 kinds of Chinese medicinal materials that can be processed while they are fresh, of which 29 kinds can be sliced
.
However, it is understood that there are many varieties that are actually sliced ​​in the production area, such as licorice, astragalus, codonopsis, angelica, yam, rehmannia, isatis root, salvia, scutellaria, platycodon, angelica, atractylodes, white peony, chuanxiong, etc.
, which have exceeded the varieties specified in the pharmacopoeia.
Range
.
The author believes that, from a realistic point of view, the complete liberalization of the processing of Chinese medicinal materials while they are fresh may become a trend in the development of the industry
.
As early as 2015, the Ministry and other 12 departments jointly issued the "protection and development of Chinese herbal medicines Plan (2015-2020)" clearly to promote the early origin of Chinese herbal medicine processing standardization, scale, intensive, encourage Chinese medicine production enterprises to the herbs The production area extends the industrial chain, and carries out fresh cutting and deep processing
.
It can be predicted that the range of varieties processed by taking advantage of the freshness will gradually expand
.

 

　　Significant advantages of integrated processing

 

　　The integration of origin processing and decoction pieces production is conducive to the development of the industry
.

 

　　Processing while they are fresh can reduce the loss of active ingredients in Chinese medicinal materials
.
In fact, most Chinese medicinal materials can be processed and sliced ​​while they are fresh, and the quality is significantly better than the slices processed after soaking and softening
.
For example, dry day/hemp/ is not easy to moisturize, the slice shape is poor after cutting; hematoxylin is difficult to cut after drying, and the effective ingredients are easy to lose during the moistening process; When transported to the decoction piece factory for reprocessing, it must be moisturized or even soaked for a long time before it can be cut, which will inevitably lead to the loss of active ingredients
.
At present, most of the main production areas of Chinese medicinal materials are in remote rural areas.
The direct processing of Chinese medicinal materials into tablets at the place of production can greatly reduce labor costs.
In addition to creating jobs and increasing income for remote areas, it can also reduce logistics costs
.
Chinese medicinal materials are removed from the place of production and cut into pieces, and then enter the circulation link, which can reduce logistics costs and reduce garbage for the city
.

 

　　In recent years, the integration of the production of Chinese medicinal materials and the production of decoction pieces has also become the consensus of many people
.
Move the decoction piece factory to the main producing area of ​​authentic medicinal materials, and make it clear that only one or three to five local authentic medicinal materials are processed.
The advantages of integrated processing are more obvious: only one authentic medicinal material, mechanical processing and quality Low investment in inspection equipment, less reference materials and inspection personnel, less investment, low risk, and high return, which is convenient for enterprises to put into production, become more refined and specialized, and become bigger and stronger; the production area processing and the decoction piece production are intersected in technology, and there is no obvious boundary Distinguished, integration can reduce multiple water soaking and repeated drying processes, and avoid the loss of active ingredients and content; integrated processing can reduce the loss of medicinal materials, save energy, and can also greatly reduce labor costs, improve production efficiency and economic benefits ; It can ensure that the source of medicinal materials is clear and the quality is stable, which is conducive to traceability and grading circulation, which greatly reduces logistics costs; it can combine the production and planting specifications of Chinese medicinal materials with the production specifications of decoction pieces, which is conducive to the uniformity and control of quality and the formation of quality, thereby ensuring The quality and clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine decoction pieces; at the same time, it is convenient for the supervision department to supervise
.

 

　　Regarding the integration of origin processing and decoction pieces production, the author proposes to build a batch of single-variety decoction pieces factories and regional decoction pieces factories in the main producing areas of authentic medicinal materials, and concentrate and divert flows through the storage and logistics base of Chinese medicinal materials to achieve "Internet +" unified national distribution Directly with one station
.

 

　　A single-variety decoction piece factory refers to a decoction piece factory that produces only one or a few varieties
.
For example, the construction of a "Dangshen Decoction Pieces Factory" and "Danggui Decoction Pieces Factory" that only produce a single variety in Gansu; the construction of a "Chuanxiong Decoction Pieces Factory" and a Alisma Decoction Pieces Factory in Sichuan; the construction of a "White Peony Decoction Pieces Factory" in Bozhou; Decoction Piece Factory" and so on
.
A regional decoction piece factory refers to a decoction piece factory that only produces authentic medicinal materials in the region
.
For example, the Huaiyao Decoction Pieces Factory only produces four major Huaiyao decoction pieces; there are also "pan five flavors", "jian six flavors", and "xiang nine flavors".
Each factory only produces a few local authentic medicinal materials
.
The realization of integrated processing in the place of production is in line with China's national conditions and the essence and characteristics of Chinese medicine culture, which is very beneficial to the development of the Chinese herbal medicine industry
.

 

　　In fact, some leading companies have begun to deploy here, but it should be pointed out that the integration process cannot be accomplished overnight.
It needs to be treated differently according to the source and attributes of the medicinal materials, and the range of varieties cannot be expanded blindly
.
Integration must carefully study the key technology and quality control process in the processing of each medicinal material, and we must work hard to reduce the loss of active ingredients, truly reduce processing links and improve the quality of decoction pieces; integration is not the production link of production area processing and decoction pieces production.
The simple docking of traditional Chinese medicinal materials requires a reasonable integrated study of the production area of ​​Chinese medicinal materials and the production of decoction pieces.
It is demand-oriented and quality-oriented to ensure the healthy and steady development of the integration process
.

 

　　 (The author is the deputy director of the Expert Committee on Planting and Cultivation of Chinese Medicinal Materials, China Association of Chinese Medicines)