Not only do Vietnamese medicinal plants have medicinal uses but they are also edible vegetables, fruit trees and ornamental plants. Therefore, Da Nang Oriental Medicine Associations at all levels have actively propagated and replicated the cultivation and treatment of diseases by using Southern medicinal plants.

The municipal Oriental Medicine Association supports planting a herbal garden at the Military Medical Station in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District in 2020. Photo: LE VAN THOM

Following the development orientation of Oriental Medicine, the municipal Oriental Medicine Association have had two herbal gardens with a total area of nearly 3,000 square meters in An Chau Village, Hoa Phu Commune (Hoa Vang district; At the same time, numerous sample medicinal plants have also been planted on the rooftop of the association. The sample medicinal garden is served to propagate and guide people to follow.

Currently, the movement of growing Vietnamese medicinal plants has been developing strongly citywide. Typically, Mr Ngo Van Nha in Huong Lam Village, Hoa Khuong Commune, Hoa Vang District, grows medicinal plants in open spaces between coconut trees in a garden of nearly 2,000 square meters. The two most commonly grown medicinal plants are lemongrass and mugwort.

Meanwhile, physician Tran Phuoc Cau, Khue Trung Ward, Cam Le District has grown more than 5 hectares of Southern medicinal plants, both creating a source of medicinal ingredients and providing seedlings for units and individuals’ demand. Mr Cau's herbal garden has many precious medicinal plants that are cared for organically without using chemicals. The passionate physician has also successfully made many types of medicines from Vietnamese medicinal plants. "Treatment with these plants is low-cost and has few side effects, while they are easy to grow," said physician Tran Phuoc Cau.
   
So far, the model of planting Vietnamese medicinal herbs gardens has been implemented by many organizations with high efficiency. Typically, the Women's Union of Duong Lam 2 Village, Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District cleared the vacant land of 250m² and has grown lemongrass and bananas, raising a fund of more than 4 million VND/year to support poor women's households.

Meanwhile, Mr Phan Thanh Phien has implemented a model of planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy in the area of the Son Tra peninsula. This model was built by the Da Nang Pharmaceutical Association in collaboration with the Da Nang Biotechnology Center into a scientific research project on the conservation and sustainable development of rare and precious medicinal plants under the forest canopy.

In particular, herbalist Tran Dinh Nien, residing in Hoa Thuan Dong Ward, Hai Chau District has successfully prepared the remedy " Hoac huong chaanh khii tan", used effectively in the prevention and control of COVID-19, which Trung Nam International Pharmaceutical Company cooperates in production and consumption. Recently, this remedy was introduced at the seminar "Preventing and control COVID-19 with traditional medicine" organized by the Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations and the municipal Oriental Medicine Association.

For centuries, using medicinal plants to cure diseases is a long-standing method. Over the years, the municipal authorities have issued many guiding documents on the development of medicinal plants. “In the coming time, the Oriental Medicine Associations at all levels will strengthen propaganda and guide people on how to recognize medicinal plants, continuing to replicate the models of growing traditional medicinal plants, and constantly improving the effectiveness of Vietnamese herbs, combining Eastern medicine with Western medicine in health care ", emphasized Chairman of the municipal Oriental Medicine Association Nguyen Minh Son.

Reporting by LE VAN THOM- Translating by T.VY