Traditional Chinese Medicine Helps Pakistan Develop Traditional Medicine | Team | Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Jenna University Herbarium in Pakistan houses over 180000 plant specimens. In this largest specimen museum in Pakistan, Professor Mushtak Ahmed, the leader of the research team on traditional Chinese medicine and medicinal plants at Jenna University, told Xinhua News Agency reporters that there are about 3500 types of traditional Pakistani herbs distributed within China, and the two countries have enormous potential for collaborative research in the field of traditional medicine.
Mushtak's research team will travel to various parts of Pakistan to collect herbs and their prescriptions from village elders or doctors, and use chemical analysis and biological screening to study the ingredients extracted from the herbs. After confirming their efficacy, the team will hand over their research results to pharmaceutical companies and use them for production.
"The plants of the Paeonia genus are distributed in both Pakistan and China, and our drugs made from Paeonia extract have obtained patents," Mushtak said for example. In addition, in traditional Chinese medicine, dried green peaches made from green peaches have the effect of reducing sweat. The research team of traditional Chinese medicine medicinal plants at Zhenna University will also make dried green peaches collected from the northern region of Pakistan and store them in the laboratory for teaching and research purposes.
In recent years, the cooperation between China and Pakistan in the field of traditional medicine has shown a good momentum and diverse forms. Previously, seven Pakistani medicinal plant seeds selected by Pakistani scientists returned to the ground after staying on the Chinese space station for six months, and the seeds were returned to Pakistani scientists in February of this year. Chinese and Pakistani researchers are using this batch of seeds to jointly conduct breeding, genetic stability, pharmacological material basis, efficacy, and safety research.
Ikla Kayum, who is pursuing a PhD in botany at Jenna University, and her family have always been accustomed to using traditional Chinese medicine for treatment. During her master's degree, Ikla conducted extensive research on some herbs in her hometown. Recently, she is researching the use of six traditional Chinese medicines to treat gynecological diseases.
Ikra told Xinhua News Agency reporters, "In rural areas of Pakistan, due to outdated medical facilities, women often suffer from many diseases. If some diseases such as dysmenorrhea are not treated in a timely manner, they may also be life-threatening. I hope to use traditional Chinese medicine to help the local people."
According to Mushtak, due to their proximity to nature, Pakistani people living in rural areas have always had a tradition of using herbs to treat illnesses. In recent years, more and more urban residents are troubled by obesity, diabetes and other diseases, and are also interested in traditional Chinese medicine.
Navid Abbas, a graduate student in botany at Jenna University, said, "Studying traditional Chinese medicine has greatly inspired my botanical research." I hope to work in a pharmaceutical company after graduation, making traditional Chinese medicine more accessible in Pakistan and allowing more Pakistani people to enjoy the health benefits brought by traditional Chinese medicine.
Mushtak said that the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine in countries along the "the Belt and Road" can greatly benefit the people. "As an ancient and effective system, traditional Chinese medicine should be promoted globally.".
Pakistani public health expert Shimal Daud Alain stated that the experience and technology of traditional Chinese medicine will greatly assist healthcare practices in developing countries.