Compendium of Materia Medica

The *Compendium of Materia Medica* (Bencao Gangmu) is a comprehensive Chinese pharmacopoeia, written by herbalist Li Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty. It catalogs thousands of medicinal substances—plants, animals, and minerals—and details their traditional uses, properties, and preparations. This classic text serves as both a medical reference and a cultural record, reflecting centuries of Chinese herbal medicine knowledge. Its systematic approach has influenced traditional healing and remains a foundational resource in Chinese medicine today.