[Tokyo Crude Drugs Association] Bringing “crude drugs” nurtured by history and tradition closer to you. Medicinal Botanical Garden Summer Quiz Rally

Since ancient times, humans have used roots, stems, and other things around us as medicines. This includes not only plants, but also animal horns, skins, insects, and minerals. These things that occur in nature that have a long history of being used for their medicinal properties are known as “crude drugs”, and are used as ingedients for many home remedies and herbal medicines.

The popularization of medicines begain in the middle of the Edo period. The Shogunate encouraged the sale of herbal medicines, leading to the emergence of drug wholesalers and merchants who sold the crude drugs that were used to make such medicines, thereby encouraging the circulation of these medicines among the population. Doctors would purchase crude drugs from drug wholesalers, store them in a chest with many small drawers, and then compound herbal medicines for their patients in accordance with their symptoms.

The demand for medicines increased as a result. While seeds of medicinal plants were imported from China, there were also many attempts to survey, collect, and cultivate medicinal herbs and plants growing wild in the mountains and fields in order to achieve self-sufficiency within Japan.

Since its opening in 1946, the Tokyo Metropolitan Medicinal Botanical Garden in Kodaira City, Tokyo, has cultivated approximately 1,750 varieties of valuable medicinal herbs and medicinal trees from Japan and around the world. In order to broaden public interest in medicinal plants that are used as ingredients for crude drugs, the Tokyo Crude Drugs Association, which manages and operates the botanical garden, will hold a “Medicinal Herb Quiz Health Rally” on August 27th.

The “Medicinal Herb Quiz Health Rally” is an event where participants can deepen their knowledge of crude drugs and medicinal plants while exploring the Medicinal Botanical Garden and nearby walking trails. Participation is on a first-come-first-served basis to the first 200 people, and participants who complete the event will also receive a wonderful present. It is recommended tthat you participate together with elementary and junior high school students who may be struggling with their summer vacation assignments.

In recent years, the concept of “self-medication” has become increasingly popular for health management and prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Self-medication means taking responsibility for your own health and managing minor physical ailments by yourself. As part of self-medication, it is recommended that you safeguard your own health by preventing diseases and managing your condition through the adept usage of home remedies and herbal medicines.

By deepening your knowledge of the crude drugs used to make home remedies and herbal medicines, you will be able to increase your awareness of self-medication, and this will contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Why not take this opportunity to come in touch with crude drugs that have been nurtured by history and tradition?

【Event details】
August 27th, 2023 (Sunday)
Medicinal Herb Quiz Health Rally
Venue Tokyo Metropolitan Medicinal Botanical Garden and neighboring green spaces
21-1 Nakajima-cho, Kodaira City * Near Higashi-Yamatoshi Station on the Seibu Haijima Line
Time Starting from 10:00 a.m. (lasts while commemorative gifts are available)
Participants 200 individuals
Fee Free
Same-day registration（no application necessary）　First-come-first-served
Cancelled in the event of rain

■URL
https://www.tokyo-shoyaku.com/