You Xiong: Finding and breeding Chinese herbal medicine in African primitive forest

Dr.You Xiong, member of the 24th and 25th dispatch of Chinese (Hunan) Medical Team to Sierra Leone, is from the Hunan Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital. He arrived in Sierra Leone of Africa in March, 2023.

In three months, Sierra Leone will transition from the rainy season to the dry season. During this time, Dr. You Xiong is planning his second journey into the vast and mysterious highland primitive forests of Africa. His goal is to discover more suitable Chinese herbal medicines for local cultivation. This endeavor is one of the reasons he has graciously decided to extend his stay in Sierra Leone for another year.

Incorporating the Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine into Local Traditional Medical Practices

Sierra Leone is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and serves as the birthplace of different traditional medical treatments and medicines. One of the traditional medical treatments is the use of wild herbs, which locals often use in a decoction to prevent malaria and relieve pain.

After several months of dedicating himself to medical aid in Africa, Dr. You Xiong received an invitation from the Traditional Medicine Commission of Sierra Leone Health Ministry to join them with an expectation of incorporating the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into the drafting of Sierra Leone’s traditional medicine legislation.

Meanwhile, Dr. You Xiong found that most of the herbal medicines used locally have not been processed, resulting in low efficacy. Additionally, wild herbs are unevenly distributed, and the lack of medical resources is even more severe in remote areas of Sierra Leone.

"Sierra Leone is highly suitable for the growth of Chinese herbal medicines. If we can identify a few medicinal and economically valuable herbs for large-scale cultivation in the region, it would not only address the shortage of medicines but also provide employment opportunities for local residents and improve the local traditional medical system. " You Xiong told the reporter that if Chinese herbal medicines could be planted on a large scale in Sierra Leone, followed by manual harvesting and processing, producing more products tailored to local conditions, it would significantly enhance the local medical standards and promote the international spread of traditional Chinese medicine culture.

Conducting Traditional Herbal Medicine Research by Driving Over 370 Kilometers

In February, 2024, You Xiong and four other medical team members set out from their base in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, driving over 370 kilometers to enter the mysterious high mountain forests to conduct an in-depth survey and study of local herbal resources. This was the first such expedition by the Chinese medical team.

Before the trip, You Xiong did extensive research. The local forests are filled with many dangerous factors, including one of Africa's deadliest snakes—the black mamba. Additionally, the area is infested with mosquitoes, making it easy to contract malaria.

On the day of the expedition, You Xiong and his teammates hiked nearly 8 kilometers in the forest. On the return journey, due to poor road conditions and vehicle issues, the vehicle broke down. "I had to keep pressing the pedal, but the clutch wouldn't bounce back normally. I had to use my toes to hold down the pedal and drove over 300 kilometers back to the base," You Xiong recalled. The good news was that the trip was worthwhile because they discovered that the Makoni region has a very suitable environment for the growth of temperate zone herbs.

Establishing Sierra Leone's First Traditional Chinese Medicine Center

You Xiong told the reporter that after this herbal medicine survey, the cultivation of Chinese herbs like Tianma (Gastrodia elata) is being prepared. Next, they will start small-scale cultivation of Gastrodia elata, followed by a comparative analysis of its active components with those grown domestically. Based on the results, they will further plan and refine the cultivation work.

Around December this year, You Xiong will travel to the forests near Guinea for additional research.

Currently, the medical team is in communication with local authorities to establish a dedicated traditional Chinese medicine center within the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital.

"Our work in traditional Chinese medicine is not just about treating patients; it also involves building the TCM system." Recently, You Xiong led local students in initiating a research project aimed at providing traditional Chinese medicine treatments for hypertension to local residents.

Meanwhile, the acupuncture and massage specialization established by You Xiong has been officially incorporated into the local education system, marking the birth of Sierra Leone's first associate degree in traditional medicine.

"Students can register for local TCM physician qualifications after three years of internship and can work at the TCM center or open their own clinics, allowing traditional Chinese medicine to take root deeply in this land," You Xiong said.

Africans Talk on TCM

Local medical assistant Abu participated in the herbal medicine research with You Xiong and had a profound experience. Abu had already received over a year of training in traditional Chinese medicine and was proficient in its advantages in treating specific diseases, but he had never learned about Chinese herbal medicine.

Following You Xiong's footsteps into the familiar African rainforest, Abu finally saw many of the Chinese herbs he had heard so much about. "I have decided to continue working in traditional Chinese acupuncture and massage. If I get the chance in the future, I want to go to China to study TCM, not just to learn acupuncture, but also to learn how to use these amazing Chinese herbs," Abu said.