Travelling Formulas

Abstract Plant, animal, and mineral products travelled thousands of miles from Central and South Asia, the Mediterranean, and even Africa to become part of the Chinese pharmacopeia. These products were often used as drugs that were commonly bundled in formulas. While individual drugs were gradually incorporated as part of Chinese medicine, the formula preparations which regularly carried them remain relics of history. By first examining identification and linguistic information, and then looking closely at several formulas containing chebulic myrobalan ( Terminalia chebula Retz.) from both Indic and Chinese sources, we can understand better how this drug and its corresponding medical information made its way from South Asia to East Asia, thereby becoming part of the Chinese medical system.