Chinese medicinal processing: A characteristic aspect of the ethnopharmacology of traditional chinese medicine

Chinese medicinal processing is a pharmaceutical technique that meets different therapeutic, dispensing and preparation requirements based on traditional Chinese medicine theory. Prior to clinical application, raw Chinese medicinal materials must be processed into decoction pieces. The aims of Chinese medicinal processing include reducing toxicity or side effects, enhancing efficacy, modifying medicinal properties, and facilitating the preparation and administration of Chinese medicinals. In this review the present state and problems of Chinese medicinal processing as well as recent progress in research are documented, the development of processing methods and possible approaches to solve those problems are explored, and the most urgent work needed is proposed.