The Traditional Chinese Medicine Garden

The small-scale and organic cultivation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs is a new project started this year at the UBC Orchard Garden. Two garden beds of TCM herbs were planted in early July by a small group of volunteers from the UBC Orchard Garden Community. The plants are currently growing beneath the canopy of a plum tree in the Food Forest.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Why Grow Medicinal Plants?

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic system of medical theory, wellness practices, and healing modalities originating from China, and is estimated to be over 3000 years old (Schafer, 2011). Like other ancient traditional medicines, such as Ayurveda, TCM has an extensive herbal focus. This can be seen in the highly influential Ming Dynasty text Bencao gangmu, or Compendium of Materia Medica, written by Li Shizhen contains descriptions of 1094 herbs, 444 animal parts, and 275 mineral substances (Britannica, 1998). Both the theory and practice of TCM draw heavily from the naturalistic Daoist philosophy, which emphasizes holism, interrelationship, harmony, and balance, and situates health and illness within the unbroken context of the individual’s physical, psychological, and emotional well-being (Kaptchuck, 1983). Treatment within TCM is therefore individualistic, holistic, and emphasizes relationality between doctor and patient, and between patient and their life-world. For example, TCM herbal formulas are commonly individually tailored to the specific condition of each patient. 

 

Over the last ten years, acupuncture and TCM herbalism have become increasingly popular in Vancouver, with people looking for alternative holistic treatment outside Western medicine. TCM clinics can now easily be found on every major street in Vancouver. However, most of the TCM herbs used by TCM practitioners in North America, and sold in local pharmacies, are still sourced from Asia. Longtime Chinese medicinal herb-grower Peg Schafer points out three concerns for continuing reliance on current sourcing practices for Asian medicinal herbs: unsustainable collecting practices because the majority of herbs in China are still harvested from the wild, concerns over quality, and the rising costs of herbs (Schafer, 2011). Over the last 20 years, these reasons have led her, and other growers around the United States such as Joe Hollis and Jean Giblette, to start cultivating Chinese medicinal plants locally in order to ensure greater accessibility and high quality. 

 

The TCM garden, much like the UBC Orchard Garden, is intended as a demonstration and learning garden. Emphasis is placed on promoting both the cultural and medicinal aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as local cultivation of TCM herbs. If you are interested in visiting the TCM garden, or learning more about Traditional Chinese Medicinal herbalism, growing medicinal herbs and other related activities, please sign-up for our newsletter to keep informed about volunteer opportunities and upcoming workshops.