[Literature research on khumbu].

Area of Science:

• Ethnobotany
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Marine Botany

Background:

• Khumbu, historically documented as "Lunbu" and "Kunbu," has a medicinal legacy dating back to the Wei period (220-265 A.D.).
• Early records like Wu Pu's Materia Medica and Mingyi Bielu highlight its long-standing use.
• The original source of medicinal Khumbu is identified as kelp.

Purpose of the Study:

• To trace the historical origins and nomenclature of Khumbu (kelp) in traditional Chinese medicine.
• To identify the botanical sources and geographical distribution of medicinal kelp throughout history and in modern times.

Main Methods:

• Historical text analysis of ancient Chinese herbal pharmacopeias (e.g., Wu Pu's Materia Medica, Mingyi Bielu).
• Botanical identification of kelp species used medicinally.
• Geographical analysis of historical and contemporary kelp production regions.

Main Results:

• Khumbu's earliest recorded names were "Lunbu" and "Kunbu," appearing in texts from the Wei period.
• The medicinal kelp is primarily sourced from Laminaria japonica Aresch. or Ecklonia kurome Okam.
• Historically, kelp was produced in the East China Sea and North Korea; currently, it is cultivated in Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces, with Kunbu specifically from Zhejiang and Fujian.

Conclusions:

• Kelp (Khumbu) possesses a rich history of medicinal application spanning over two millennia.
• Understanding its historical names, botanical origins, and geographical distribution is crucial for its continued use in traditional and modern contexts.