Inheriting Essence, Keeping Integrity and Innovation

In China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a complicated scientific system formulated by the health philosophy and practice in China's thousands of years of history. It is a treasure of the Chinese civilization and embodies the great wisdom of the Chinese people and nation. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, remarkable achievements have been made in the field of TCM, which has made important contributions to the improvement of people's health. Today, during the process of advancing the construction of healthy China, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) must abide by “The Thought of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, and give full play to the advantages of TCM in an attempt to make a historic contribution to realize the healthy China dream. In addition, one should vigorously push forward with the scientific and technological innovation of Chinese medicine and new drug research & development and make full use of the TCM unique advantage in disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and finally realize high quality development of TCMs amid the inheritance and innovation of TCMs.

President Xi Jin-ping called for the importance of "following the development rules of TCM, inheriting the essence and keeping the integrity and innovation", which is the significant and guiding thought to give play to the unique advantages of TCM in the disease prevention and treatment, modernization and industrialization of CHM products, complement each other between traditional and west medicine, promote the coordinated and high quality development of Chinese medicine cause and industry. It is a pivotal strategic guiding thought to build a healthier China system, and to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Following the law of development of Chinese medicine, understanding the thought of "Inheriting essence, keeping integrity and innovation", insisting on cultural confidence, deepening the reform and innovation are the core messages passed by "Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party and State Council Opinion on Preservation and Innovative Development of TCM” (Opinion) with 20 articles containing 125 items released in October 2019. Under the guidance of the “Opinion”, actions should be urgently taken on implementing the ground work in accordance with development road of the characteristics of TCM. It is an imperative historical mission and responsibility to follow President Xi's philosophy of "Inheriting essence, keeping integrity and innovation" and develop TCM with the historical view and development vision.

After thousands of years of development, TCM embodies the profound theory, great wisdom, cognitive mode, development law and exuberant vitality of the Chinese people and nation. In today's great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, "carrying forward, inheriting and innovating" has always been the key to promote TCM sticking to its own development. During the development and transformation of TCM industry, we gradually lost ourselves due to the existing problems in TCM research & development and industry supervision, theory, methods and standards for TCM evaluation, as well as lack of culture confidence.

The newly released historic "Opinion” by Central Committee of CPC and States Council of China has clearly stated that the spirit of following the development law of TCM should run throughout. That is to say, only by following the development law of TCM could we understand how to inherit the “essence”, keep the “right” and create the “new”. As the document pointed out, it is essential to give play to the unique role of TCM in maintaining and promoting people's health.

We should follow the development rules of TCM, establish and improve the modern management system reflecting the characteristics of TCM, establish the safety and efficacy evaluation methods and technical standards of TCM products with the characteristics of TCM. However, if it deviates from its own law and "right" is not observed, it will be impossible to address the characteristic advantages of TCM. If it does not create "new", it will inevitably deviate from the goal with great clinical demand. Of course, to follow its own development rules does not mean self-isolation. Openness and inclusiveness also need to be followed. It is an important part of the development to accelerate the construction of TCM theory and the establishment of a multidisciplinary scientific research platform in the coordinated development.

The "integrity" of TCM innovation lies in the practical significance of strengthening the confidence of TCM culture and theory, keeping an open and inclusive mind and focusing on the innovation goal. For TCM research & development and industry sustainable development, ranging from industry development, medicinal herbs cultivation and breeding, research and development of new products, the recourse of the quality management system, to the medical and health need, to the product safety and effectiveness, must conform to the trend of the new era, social demand and social contribution to the economic development of practical significance. The development of TCM has always been the root of TCM discipline innovation, but also the soul of TCM innovation.

Therefore, looking back on the unforgettable 2019 and ushering in the 2020s, we should "inherit essence and keep integrity and innovation", carry forward the innovative development, and blaze a trail with the characteristics of TCM development for a healthier China. Cultivating TCM acclaimed doctors, famous hospitals and classic prescriptions, forming well-known factories, celebrated medicines and branded shops in CHM industry, will be the inevitable trend for the development of TCM in the world.

Our international academic journal, Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHM), with the support of colleagues home and abroad, has gone through its full 10 years of history and has made an international impact on published quality articles. With the ushering of 2020s, we would like to convey our sincere gratitude to all who contributed CHM. TCMs from different nationalities are the targeted sources of the research and development, and CHM is a great platform for scientists to promote academic discoveries and carry forward innovative research results.