Overview
ISO 18662-1:2017 is an international standard established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies the basic vocabulary for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focused on Chinese Materia Medica (CMM). This standard provides a harmonized terminology for the most commonly used medicinal species in CMM, including plants, animals, and minerals. Each term is presented with comprehensive multilingual references: Latin name, Chinese name (both simplified and traditional characters), Pinyin transliteration with tone marks, and English equivalent. Additional notes cover botanical, zoological, or mineralogical details along with active ingredients. The aim of ISO 18662-1:2017 is to facilitate consistent communication, research, production, trade, and education in the global natural Chinese medicinal materials industry.
Key Topics
- Standardized Vocabulary: Integration of Latin, Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English names to ensure clarity and consistency across languages.
- Scope of Materials: Covers a wide variety of natural medicinal materials including herbs, animal-derived products, and minerals commonly used in CMM.
- Detailed Specifications: Provides source-related definitions including applicable medicinal parts of species, botanical names, zoological families, mineral types, and active compounds.
- Ordering and Accessibility: Terms are alphabetically organized by Latin pharmaceutical names for efficient referencing.
- Components of Each Entry:
- Latin name (pharmaceutical classification)
- Chinese name in simplified and traditional characters
- Pinyin with tonal marks for correct pronunciation
- English common name
- Scientific details as notes
Applications
ISO 18662-1:2017 is essential for various stakeholders in the Traditional Chinese Medicine ecosystem, including:
- Healthcare Practitioners: Ensures precise identification and use of medicinal materials during diagnosis and treatment.
- Producers and Manufacturers: Guides labeling and classification of raw medicinal ingredients facilitating quality control and compliance with international trade regulations.
- Researchers and Academics: Standardized terminology enables accurate scientific communication, comparative studies, and academic exchange on CMM.
- Traders and Exporters: Reduces ambiguity in cross-border trade of Chinese medicinal materials by unifying terminology.
- Educators: Supports the development of standardized curricula and educational materials in TCM.
The standard is invaluable for anyone involved in the handling, study, or commercialization of crude natural medicinal materials in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Related Standards
ISO 18662-1:2017 is part of the wider ISO 18662 series focusing on Traditional Chinese Medicine vocabulary. Further parts may cover additional terminology related to processing, formulations, and specific TCM practices. It complements other standards developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 249, which work to standardize healthcare products and practices within Chinese medicine. Collaboration with other international standards such as those from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) promotes cohesive global regulation and terminology alignment.
Keywords: ISO 18662-1, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Materia Medica, CMM, TCM vocabulary, medicinal herbs, botanical nomenclature, pharmaceutical standards, Chinese herbal medicine terminology, international trade CMM, natural medicinal materials, standardized TCM terminology, TCM education, natural remedies, crude Chinese medicinals.
