Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 7: Woods in Medicine & Culture

The Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), written by Li Shizhen (1518–1593), is the most complete encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine. Volume 7 translates Chapters 34–37, devoted entirely to woods. From medicinal barks and resins to the symbolic power of trees, this section reveals how Ming-era physicians understood the healing properties and cultural importance of wood species. For anyone interested in ethnobotany, herbal traditions, or forestry heritage, this volume offers a profound look at how trees shaped health and society.

Why It’s Tough Enough for Tough Kraut

• Trees as Medicine:

This volume catalogs the medicinal roles of woods, barks, and resins, showing how forests were once central to healing traditions.

• From Symbol to Substance:

Many tree species were valued not only for practical remedies but also for cultural and spiritual significance.

• UNESCO-Listed Knowledge:

As part of the Ben Cao Gang Mu, recognized in 2011, this volume preserves centuries of forest wisdom.

• Modern Perspective:

Readers gain both historical context and insights into how wood-based remedies influenced holistic practices still alive today.

Proven Finishing Touches

• Rich Botanical Insight:

Chapters 34–37 highlight the diverse uses of woods across medicine, daily life, and culture.

• Trusted Translation:

Paul Unschuld’s annotated edition provides the English reader with context and accuracy, alongside the original Chinese text.

• Praised for Depth:

Readers note its value for herbalists, historians, and anyone interested in plant-based healing systems.

Why We Love It

At Tough Kraut, Volume 7 resonates because wood is as central to our homestead as it was to Ming medicine — from building materials to fuel to ecological resilience. Just as Li Shizhen saw trees as multi-functional sources of health and culture, we see them as anchors in our food forest and daily life. This volume reminds us that trees are more than background; they are active partners in survival and wellbeing.

Get Yours Now

Ready to explore the healing legacy of trees? Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 7 is available through University of California Press and on Amazon in your region.

Specifications

• Title: Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 7: Woods
• Author: Li Shizhen (1518–1593)
• Translator/Editor: Paul Unschuld
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Series: Ben Cao Gang Mu (9 volumes, 10 books)
• First Draft Completed: 1578 (Ming Dynasty)
• UNESCO Registration Year: 2011
• ISBN: 978-0520395190