Talk about Chinese medicine packaging and its internationalization

Chinese medicine is a treasure of China. China is the world’s largest producer and user of natural medicines. Traditional Chinese medicines such as soups, ointments, pills, pills, and powders left over from thousands of years have long been used in paper bags, cartons, glass bottles, plastic bags, and carton packaging. . After the reform and opening up, especially in the past 10 years, China has basically improved the backwardness of Chinese medicine packaging. The Chinese pharmaceutical formulation has also undergone great changes. From traditional soups, creams, pills, dan, and powdered dosage forms, new dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, injections, oral liquids, and condensate pills have been transformed into traditional Chinese medicines, and their packaging has also been continuously improved.

Storage and preservation

After the Chinese herbal medicines are harvested and processed, they must be packaged and stored in time. Otherwise, insect infestation, mildew, deterioration, malodor, and oil migration will occur. This will not only lose efficacy, but also have toxic and side effects after being taken. Now its storage technology is introduced as follows:

1. Storage of volatile oily medicinal herbs: such as Asarum, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Angelica, rose, thistle, bergamot, Chinese rose, woody, Achyranthes and other volatile oils, rich aromatic, colorful, temperature, humidity , Oxygen and light effects, easy to change color, go oil, taste, not long-term exposure to the air. Such medicinal materials should be packed in double-layer non-toxic plastic film bags. Put a small amount of quick lime, alum or dried sawdust, chaff, etc. in the bags, and store them in a dry, ventilated, and dark place after being fastened.

2. Storage of fruit and seed medicines: such as Yuliren, Coix Seed, Boziren, almonds, Gorgon fruit, Croton, lotus seeds and other herbs contain more starch, fat, carbohydrates, protein components, in case of high temperature oil leakage, medicinal surface Oil stains appear, causing deterioration, rancidity, and loss of flavor. Such medicinal materials should not be stored in high-temperature places and baked, should be placed in ceramic jars, altars and glass jars, bottles or metal barrels, placed in a cool, dry, dark place. Some of them are suitable for drying, disinfecting and sterilizing with gentle heat, stir-fried or boiled water, etc., and are stored in a container to prevent insects and mildew from deteriorating.

3. Storage of starchy medicinal materials: such as Ming Dangshen, North Adenophora, Polygonum multiflorum, rhubarb, yams (yams yam), Pueraria, Alisma, Fritillaria, etc., should be packed with double-layer non-toxic plastic film bags Stored in containers containing quicklime, alum or dried sawdust, husks, etc. to prevent insect repellence, resurgence, deterioration, and mildew.

4. Storage of sugar-containing medicinal herbs: Herbs such as Anemarrhena, Gardenia, Polygonatum, Polygonatum, Polygonum multiflorum, Radix Rehmanniae, Asparagus, Codonopsis pilosula, Scrophulariaceae, etc., which have high water content and sugar content, are easy to absorb moisture and cause glycosylation Sticky, rotten and spoiled. Such medicinal materials should be fully dried, packed in double-layer non-toxic plastic film bags, tightly packed, and put in sealed ceramic jars, altars and cans, placed in a dry and ventilated place, and put some quick lime, alum, or dried fresh in the container. Sawdust, chaff, and other items are protected against moisture.

Packaging Technology and Innovation

Package Design

Drugs are special products for treatment, disease prevention, and nourishing fitness. They also have special requirements for packaging. Manufacturers and designers in the strict implementation of the "Drug Administration Law" in the provisions of the relevant drug packaging provisions, but also pay attention to packaging and decoration and drug packaging itself, the choice of patterns and colors. The color and pattern of the outer packaging of medicines have a great influence and attraction for the patient (or the purchaser) to choose to purchase one or a certain brand of medicines.

Design innovation

China's 5,000-year history of civilization has created a thick and unique traditional Chinese medicine culture. However, due to the long-term use of traditional Chinese medicine formulations in paper-bag carton, glass bottles, plastic bags, and carton packaging, it has not reached the international market requirements and once made Chinese medicine preparations. Exports are affected. In the past ten years, the backward situation of Chinese medicine packaging has been changed. More than 1,000 manufacturing companies that are in compliance with pharmaceutical packaging containers have played an active role in the transformation of traditional Chinese medicine dosage forms into new dosage forms, especially Chinese medicine tablets and capsules. New dosage forms such as injections, oral liquids, and bolus pills can be described as similar to today's.

Technical Improvement

The new packaging technology has brought new vitality to ancient Chinese medicines, increased technological content and increased added value. Suppositories are made by mixing the drug with a suitable base and are intended for cavity administration. According to the different cavities applied, bullets, torpedoes, and duckbills can be used in three types, among which the most is the bullet type, such as the Dakkaning bolt of Xi'an Jansen and the Sangtian Gongshuan of Chongqing. Medication methods are mostly rectal and vaginal administration. Due to the unique drug delivery characteristics of suppository drugs, development was in trouble due to factors such as inconvenient use of patients. However, with the advancement of new packaging technology, ancient suppositories are now enjoying new vitality.

Solve problems and achieve internationalization

The problems of Chinese medicine packaging mainly focus on the following aspects:

Simple and old style

Many pharmaceutical packaging uses the paper “old face” that has been consistently manufactured for decades. Such non-prescription drugs are placed on the shelves. After many consumers touch it, they are easily contaminated and damaged. Other packaging uses aluminum skin bottles. Cover or cork stopper, the former is not easy to open, need to use tools such as scissors, such as a factory production of hormones eye drops is an example of the latter when the cork stopper will fall into the bottle.

The label is ambiguous

Some of the labels on the PET bottles will soon fall off and must be affixed by the user, and some labels will be printed on the expiration date of the batch number. The expression of Zhang Guan-li makes people misunderstand.

Instructions did not explain

For example, if a certain drug label is written with 5mg each time, people with lower education levels tend to take 5mg (one tablet) as five tablets, which is unavoidable. Some drug product manuals have too simple side effects and they leak. Writing certain side-effect clauses can cause unnecessary trouble.

Chinese medicine packaging is rough

Some medicines have a rough packaging, especially Chinese patent medicines. Due to the fact that pharmaceuticals use stencil paper and linerboard as liners, the impact force is extremely poor, and the air tide and humidity in the sales areas are encountered. The strength of the carton is weakened after absorbing moisture, and it is easy to cause damage.

Build a brand and go abroad

The concept of internationalized marketing of traditional Chinese medicine must be transformed from simply promoting traditional Chinese medicine products to adapting to the needs of the international market. Therefore, we must understand the international market, identify the target markets, test the validity and safety of Chinese medicines, conduct cost-effectiveness analysis of Chinese medicines, and conduct international academic exchanges in English and other languages ​​to promote traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese medicine to promote the internationalization of Chinese medicines. .

When consumers purchase proprietary Chinese medicines, they are largely buying a certain brand. When the brand is established, the company should strengthen the identification and promotion of branding and product packaging, and enhance customer awareness of branded products. Therefore, it is particularly important to display the cultural features of proprietary Chinese medicines as well as to comply with the requirements of international pharmaceutical packaging in terms of text and patterns.

Conclusion

In summary, as a treasure of traditional Chinese medicine, proprietary Chinese medicines have extremely profound cultural and historical heritage. Therefore, it is very important for us to establish a proper branding and traditional image of traditional Chinese medicine as soon as possible to find a proper design and direction for Chinese medicine packaging.