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Sun Yali
Director, State Admin. of Traditional Chinese Medicine
China Medical Association of Minorities
China has 56 ethnic nationalities. Every ethnic minority (55 of the 56 groups) has its own medical practices and developments. There are two parts that compose Chinese traditional medicine: 1) Chinese Medicine (zhong yi), which is the mainstream of ancient society and represents Chinese Traditional Medicine; and 2) Ethnic Minority Traditional Medicine, called medicines of minorities.
Recently, 30 ethnic minorities have been recognized for their traditional medicines. This paper will address these groups, medical practices, and their development. It will give a brief background of ethnic medicines, the medical industry, laws and regulations regarding ethnic medicines, and treatment development. This paper provides the foundation for future research in the field of Ethnic Minority Traditional Medicine.
[PDF] Chinese