title: [Identification of ancient Chinese medicinal specimens preserved at Natural History Museum in London].
abstract: On-site field investigation was conducted to authenticate a batch of ancient Chinese medicinal decoction pieces that have been preserved in a rare collection at the Natural History Museum in London. These treasured artifacts comprise a portion of the Sloane Collection, and the nearly one hundred Chinese medicinal specimens examined within provide an objective record of the real situation regarding the Chinese medicinal materials in commercial circulation three hundred years ago. The precious data from this collection pro-vides an extremely valuable reference for the research into the history of medicinal exchange between China and the West during the Age of Exploration, shedding light on the evolution and historical changes in the species used in Chinese medicine, as well as the history of medicinal processing and decoction pieces.
authors.forename: Zhong-zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kai-cun
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D049690:History, Ancient; D008131:London; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000266:history*; D009144:Museums
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal