By Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
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A garden of herbs with medicinal use was first opened at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences in 2003. It complements the other exhibits in the Museum in presenting a more complete picture of Hong Kong’s heritage as a meeting place for East and West.
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The garden aims to provide visitors with a pleasant and relaxing place for educational experience and contemplation in which to further appreciate Chinese and Western Medicine.
In addition to medicinal plants used in Chinese medicine, the Herbal Garden has since selected plants used by practitioners of western medicine (e.g. Aloe), and now also feature plants originate from which western medicinal drugs originate (e.g. Sweet Wormwood).
Artemisia annua 青蒿 Sweet wormwoodHong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
Artemisia annua
Common name: Sweet Wormwood
Plant Family: ASTERACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: parts above ground
Use in western medicine: artemisinin and its derivatives (extracted from leaves, stems, and inflorescences)
Ficus hirta
Common name: Hairy Fig
Plant Family: MORACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: root
Zanthoxylum nitidum
Common name: Shiny-leaved Prickly Ash
Plant Family: RUTACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: root
Aquilaria sinensis
Common name: Incense Tree
Plant Family: THYMELAEACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: resin-impregnated wood
In the Museum Herbal Garden are authentic medicinal herbs of the Guangdong and southern China region (e.g. Perilla), herbs characteristic of the Lingnan region (e.g. Hairy Fig), those that are ornamental because of their flowers and leaves (e.g.) Changeable Rose-mallow), and those that can be eaten (e.g. White Mulberry). In addition to medicinal plants used in Chinese medicine, the Herbal Garden has selected plants used by practitioners of western medicine (e.g. Aloe), and also feature plants from which western medicinal drugs originate (e.g. Sweet Wormwood).
Hibiscus mutabilis
Common name: Changeable Rose-mallow
Plant Family: MALVACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: flower, leaves, root
Ginkgo biloba 銀杏 Maidenhair TreeHong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
Ginkgo biloba
Common name: Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree
Plant Family: GINKGOACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: fruit, leaves
Callicarpa formosana 杜虹花 Taiwan BeautyberryHong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
Callicarpa formosana
Common name: Taiwan Beautyberry
Plant Family: VERBENACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: leaves
Brugmansia arborea
Common name: Angel’s Trumpet
Plant Family: SOLANACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: flower
Dianella ensifolia
Common name: Dianella
Plant Family: LILIACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: rhizome or parts above ground
Camellia japonica
Common name: Japanese Camellia, Camellia
Plant Family: THEACEAE
Used as Chinese medicine: flower
For reference and educational use only.
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