Research on the Cross-Regional Dissemination and Evolution of Quality Standards of Chinese Herbal Medicine He Zi

Abstract: As a pivotal medicinal plant integrated within traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine(阿育吠陀医学), He Zi (诃子 Terminalia chebula and T. chebula var. tomentella fruit) has achieved cross-regional dissemination via the overland and maritime Silk Roads, establishing a bidirectional network for pharmaceutical cultural exchange. This study adopts a rigorous medical anthropology framework to systematically trace its transmission from South Asian Subcontinen and Southeast Asia to East Asia. Methodologically, we transition from a descriptive approach to a transparent research design, utilizing primary sources—including Charaka Samhita (《遮罗迦本集》 Charaka’s Compendium of Medicine ), Jing Zhu Ben Cao (《晶珠本草》 Crystal Materia Medica ), and Xin Xiu Ben Cao (《新修本草》 Newly Revised Materia Medica )—alongside a quantitative comparative analysis of modern pharmacopoeial standards. The research explores the distinct developmental trajectories of He Zi : its multi-stage role in Ayurvedic rejuvenation ( Rasayana, 强壮延年法), the “Three Humors” balance doctrine (三因平衡理论, i.e., the harmony of Loong [隆], Tripa[赤巴], and Baekan[培根]) in Chinese Xizang medicine, and the sophisticated functional differentiation in TCM, characterized by astringing the lung and large intestine (敛肺涩肠). The findings indicate that the functional differentiation of He Zi fundamentally reflects the cultural construction of medicinal resources, while a critical phytochemical evaluation demonstrates how traditional quality markers, such as “six-ridged” preference (“六棱”者品质佳), correlate with specific secondary metabolite profiles. The constructed “dissemination–interpretation–standardization” model offers empirical insights and standardized approaches for facilitating mutual learning and quality recognition of traditional medicines under the Belt and Road Initiative.