Growth of Chinese Medicine in Iran: Past, Present, and Prospects

Abstract

In recent years, the international recognition of traditional Chinese medicine has continuously increased, and that medical practice has gradually become incorporated into the medical systems of many nations. As an important country in the Belt and Road Initiative, Iran has enormous potential for cooperation with China in medical and health care. High-level officials of the two countries attach great importance to cooperation in both areas. Despite the recent rapid development of traditional Chinese medicine in Iran, that medical practice still faces many problems; examples here are the lack of practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine as well as the paucity of comprehensive cooperation among herbal medicine factories, publishing houses, traditional medicine colleges, and universities in the two countries. The present study collected and analyzed materials related to the practice of traditional Chinese medicine in Iran; in that way, it made a deep examination of the current situation, problems, and development prospects regarding traditional Chinese medicine in Iran with the aim of providing ideas and references to promote the international development of that form of medicine. Following an analysis of the development trends of traditional Chinese medicine in Iran in recent years, it became evident that the prospects for such medicine in that country are extensive, and the practice has excellent potential.