Primary school students visit an exhibition hall of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine at the Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 12, 2023. (Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences/Handout via Xinhua)

China has approved and released standards for traditional Chinese veterinary terminology, which will be implemented from March 1, 2024, according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine has developed over thousands of years, and features a complete theoretical system and unique diagnosis and treatment methods, said Wang Guibo with the Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences under the CAAS.

However, the terminology standardization was lacking, he added.

The standard was drafted by experts from the Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as other Chinese universities. It covers the description and application of traditional Chinese veterinary terminology, in a bid to accelerate international academic exchanges, and guide the clinical, scientific research and teaching of Chinese veterinary medicine.

The standard systematically defines 554 terms such as yin and yang, and the five elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal), utilized in teaching, diagnosis and treatment, scientific research, management, publication and academic exchanges of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine.

The standard is expected to promote the clinical application and research and development of more new technology and products of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine, and support the development of China's animal husbandry, Wang said.

The team also drafted standards for acupuncture on equine animals, which was implemented on Feb. 1, 2023.