About the Editor

Dr Zhao Zhongzhen is currently the course director of the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) in Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University. He is also WHO advisor for West Pacific region on Traditional Medicines, a member of the Chinese Medicines Board of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong and a member of the HKSAR Department of Health Scientific Committee on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards. Dr Zhao has long been engaged in the study of Chinese medicine resources, species and quality.

The first English monograph on Chinese crude and decoction pieces used in Hong Kong, An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica in Hong Kong is as innovative as it is authoritative.

The 'introduction' provides an in-depth analysis of the history and characteristics of the Chinese medicines industry in Hong Kong, helping the readers to develop a proper understanding of the local market of Chinese medicines and acquire a sound knowledge of crude drugs and decoction pieces. An informative, useful resource book which closely ties in with the regulation of Chinese medicines in Hong Kong, this book includes numerous items of Chinese medicines commonly used in Hong Kong but not recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. Collected personally by the authors and editors and now displayed in the HKBU Bank of China (Hong Kong) Chinese Medicine Centre, the crude drugs and decoction pieces introduced in the book have all undergone rigorous authentication by experts.

This is a reference book for those engaged in the teaching, research, sale, trading, clinical work and other forms of Chinese medicine.

This book contains description of over 500 commonly used Chinese herbs with full colour and actual size pictures of the herbs. This is a publication which will be treasured by many who practise or use Chinese medicine for promotion of health.

Readership: Pharmacologists, clinicians, physicians and traders of Chinese medicine.