From Spices to Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Study on the Introduction and Chinese Medicine Transformation of Cablin Potchouli in Ancient
GUO You-wei1,2
1. Institute of Chinese Cultural History,Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632; 2. School of Marxism, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510230
Abstract：Cablin Potchouli was introduced to Lingnan from Southeast Asia as early as the Han and Wei dynasties, for a long time it was considered to be“all sharing one wood”. In the Song Dynasty, Cablin Potchouli began to be planted on a large scale in Lingnan, becoming the geo-authentic producing areas and main tribute area for Cablin Potchouli. In its early days, Cablin Potchouli was mainly used as a spice for perfumes and cosmetics, and when it was used in medicine, it was mainly for beauty and fragrance. The medicinal effects of Cablin Potchouli gradually became known after the Southern Dynasties.The medicinal use of Cablin Potchouli began in the Tang Dynasty. The Chinese medicine transformation of Cablin Potchouli was marked by the appearance of “Huoxiang Zhengqisan”in the Song and Yuan dynasties, Cablin Potchouli became a key drug for treating stomach and spleen vomiting. After the Ming Dynasty, the use of Cablin Potchouli in medicine appeared a lot of teration, so it turned to use both leaves and branches. The Chinese medicine transformation of Cablin Potchouli is an example of many foreign species being sinicized. Cablin Potchouli was introduced into China along with other spices through the Silk Road and while retaining its spice properties, it was incorporated into the Chinese herbal knowledge system, becoming an important material for the multicultural convergence of traditional Chinese medicine. The introduction and Chinese medicine transformation of Cablin Potchouli indicate that on the one hand, since the Han Dynasty, with the opening of the Silk Road and the Sino-foreign exchanges, many plants originally from abroad have been introduced to China. These domain foreign parts of plants gradually came to be used as medicine, and entered clinical medicinal use in China, reflecting the inclusiveness of traditional Chinese medicine culture. On the other hand, since the Han Dynasty, traditional Chinese medicine scholars have interpreted the nature and function of foreign plant, initiating the process of sinicization of foreign plant drugs, and the boundaries between foreign plant drugs and traditional Chinese medicine have gradually blurred, reflecting the assimil power of traditional Chinese medicine culture.
郭幼为. 从香料到药材：古代藿香的传入与“中药化”进程[J]. 《深圳大学学报》（人文社科版）, 2025, 42(2): 38-44.
GUO You-wei. From Spices to Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Study on the Introduction and Chinese Medicine Transformation of Cablin Potchouli in Ancient. , 2025, 42(2): 38-44.
2025, Vol. 42 
粤公网安备44030502007936号