ISO 18662-2:2020

Overview

ISO 18662-2:2020 - Traditional Chinese medicine - Vocabulary - Part 2: Processing of Chinese Materia Medica is an international terminology standard that defines terms used in the theory, technology and methods for processing Chinese Materia Medica. The standard standardizes vocabulary for items such as raw materials, decoction pieces, adjuvants and processing methods to support consistent communication in research, education, trade and regulation. It is produced by ISO/TC 249 (Traditional Chinese medicine) and is not applicable to Kampo medicine.

Key topics

The document organizes and defines processing-related terminology across multiple categories, including:

• General terms: discipline definitions (Chinese Materia Medica; raw material; decoction pieces).
• Materia Medica properties: the four properties (cold, hot, warm, cool), five flavours (pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, salty), meridian entry, toxicity and side effects.
• Principles of processing: methods such as processing with opposite materials, similar materials, mutual restraint/inhibition, and objectives like shape, flavour, quality and nature processing.
• Processing technologies: definitions for chemical processing (use of chemicals to transform constituents) and biological processing (use of enzymes/microorganisms).
• Assisting materials (adjuvants): liquid adjuvants and examples (e.g., liquor/wine - yellow wine 10–20% alcohol, distilled liquor 50–70% alcohol; vinegar ~4–6% acetic acid; honey and refined honey).
• Procedures, craft, quality, preservation and storage: terminology used to describe processing procedures, manufacture practices, quality criteria and storage/handling of processed materia medica.
• Support content: bibliography and alphabetical indexes (English and Chinese).

Note: the standard contains no normative references and clarifies sources for some definitions (e.g., ISO 18668-1:2016).

Applications and users

ISO 18662-2:2020 is useful for:

• TCM manufacturers and processors standardizing processing descriptions and labels.
• Regulators and quality control laboratories harmonizing terminology in specifications and inspections.
• Academics and researchers ensuring consistent terminology in studies, protocols and publications.
• Educators and clinical practitioners teaching processing methods and decoction-piece terminology.
• Translators and trade professionals improving clarity in international trade, product documentation and cross-border communication.

Practical benefits include improved consistency in product labelling, clearer regulatory submissions, reduced ambiguity in scientific exchange, and support for international trade of Chinese Materia Medica.

Related standards

• Definitions in this part reference terms from ISO 18668-1:2016. For further terminology in Traditional Chinese medicine, consult other parts of the ISO 18662 series and ISO/TC 249 publications available on the ISO Online Browsing Platform.