"I was on my way to the medical sage's hometown; in Qizhou I marveled at all the herbal medicines found." Being the hometown of Li Shizhen, a renowned medical expert from the Ming Dynasty, Qizhou town of Qichun county, in Hubei Province, not only abounds in Chinese herbal medicines but also occupies a critical position in China's history of medical development.

"Medicinal liquor made of Qi She (Qi snake or Agkistrodon Acutus) can treat leprosy. The stem and leaves of Qi Aiye (Qichun mugwort leaf) can be used as medicine to clear dampness, inner heat, and toxic substances. Qi Gui (Qi turtle or mossback) is a tonic of high nutritional value. Qi Zhu (Qi bamboo) is a rare species of bamboo and the best choice for medicinal use. They are collectively called the 'four treasures of Qizhou' in the Compendium of Materia Medica," said Ke Songxuan, in his element talking about TCM herbs in Qizhou.

With a family tradition of practicing medicine, Ke's father had high hopes for him. "Because of my father, I began to study TCM and identify medical herbs as young as I could remember," said Ke, whose story with TCM began very early in life.

"Wild herbaceous plants mature in the rainy season, when there are lingering clouds and fog. My father used to say that reading ten thousand books is, of course, necessary, but walking ten thousand li on the road is even more important. To broaden my horizons and give me firsthand experience with the herbaceous plants, my father took me from Huangshi, my hometown, to visit doctors and pharmacists in Qizhou, where I followed them to learn about the plants in the mountain."

Rare herbs usually grew in places hard to reach and rocks were especially slippery after rain, so injuries were common if they were not careful. "The masters taught me the effects and usages of every kind of herb. They also showed me how to wash, slice, and grind the herbs, and dry them on the shelves on a sunny day." Several decades have passed, but Ke could recall all the details that have stayed in his mind vividly through the years. There was no mention of how hard the study tour was; all he remembered was what he learned and how grateful he was.

Ke (middle) with the President and the Dean of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the graduation ceremony of Middlesex University. [Photo Courtesy of Ke]