Access to this full-text is provided by MDPI.
Content available from Sustainability
This content is subject to copyright.
Citation: Law, S.K.; Au, D.C.T.;
Chow, W.Y.L.; Wang, Y.
Establishment of a Sustainable
Management Model for Chinese
Herbal Garden in an Urban
City—Hong Kong. Sustainability 2022,
14, 15610. https://doi.org/10.3390/
su142315610
Academic Editor: Luca Salvati
Received: 29 September 2022
Accepted: 4 November 2022
Published: 24 November 2022
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral
with regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional affil-
iations.
Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
sustainability
Article
Establishment of a Sustainable Management Model for Chinese
Herbal Garden in an Urban City—Hong Kong
Siu Kan Law 1, †, Dawn Ching Tung Au 1,*,†, Wesley Yeuk Lung Chow 1and Yanping Wang 2
1
Faculty of Science and Technology, The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Tsing Yi,
New Territories, Hong Kong
2School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
*Correspondence: dawnau@thei.edu.hk
† These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract:
Chinese medicinal herbs (CMHs) have been used for thousands of years because of their
significant properties regarding the prevention and treatment of diseases, such as COVID-19. There
is an increasingly diminishing supply of wild medicinal resources, and the demand is greater than
the supply. Ecological balance and the conservation of natural Chinese medicinal herbs are serious
issues in sustainable development, which requires the minimum requirements to be met without
compromising the resources of future generations, especially with respect to the maintenance of
production and consumption as well as the quality control of CMHs. Hong Kong is an urban business
city, busy with work and the fast pace of life. The sustainable development of CMHs is difficult in a
huge population situated in an area with very scarce land coverage. The conservation of CMHs in
urban horticulture is extremely neglected because people lack living space; for example, Aquilaria
Sinensis (the incense tree), also called “pak muk heung” in Cantonese, was an indigenous species that
was illegally logged in the past. This led to detrimental effects on the population density and genetic
diversity of the species. There is no doubt that Hong Kong is required to set up a management model
in community facilities for these emerging modern social configurations, such as building a Chinese
herbal garden for the conservation and promotion of a healthy urban environment and giving people
a chance to gain more information on CMHs. The current study employed problem analysis and
strategic decisions for the sustainable development of 62 kinds of CMHs in a Chinese herbal garden,
which converged with some medicinal itineraries of Lingnan herbal medications, and implemented
a theoretical framework of management models for ten secondary schools, e.g., the Aroma garden
of the L’Occitane at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) Tsing
Yi campus and Land from the Far East Consortium International Limited in Sai Kung Pak Kong. In
the present original article, we would like to establish a sustainable management model for Chinese
herbal gardens in an urban city. The sustainable development model for the Chinese herbal gardens
is based on five major aspects: (1) land resources, (2) manpower planning, (3) economy, (4) education
or training, and (5) ecosystem (cultivation). These are the essential factors of management and are
implemented in our Chinese herbal gardens. We aim to find a suitable management model for
Chinese herbal gardens and to promote it in other urban cities.
Keywords: management model; Chinese Herbal Garden; sustainability; Hong Kong; urban city
1. Introduction
Chinese medicinal herbs (CMHs) have been used for a long time in China. Since
the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC–220 AD), the ancients discovered that many plants
grown in nature have medicinal values and recorded them in “Shennong Ben Cao Jing” [
1
].
This contains 365 kinds of CMHs, in which more than 100 types of CMHs are listed as
“high quality”, “non-toxic”, and “tonifying CMHs”, and used to strengthen the body’s
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315610 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 2 of 23
immune system [
2
]. “The Complete Collection of Traditional Texts on Chinese Materia
Medica” is the most updated version, which was published by the Association of Chinese
Culture Research. It includes 800 types of CMHs with 410 volumes and 246,000 pages, but
“Shennong Ben Cao Jing” is still an important part of China’s cultural heritage; it represents
centuries of accumulated wisdom in combating disease and preserving health [3].
Hong Kong has been stricken by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and
the COVID-19 pandemic in the last three years [
4
]. Some Chinese medicinal herbs are
applied for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, such as Glycyrrhizae Radix et
Rhizoma [
5
], Astragali Radix [
6
], Houttuyniae Herba [
7
], and Isatidis Radix [
8
]. These
CMHs possess wide pharmaceutical activities, including anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and
anti-inflammatory properties [
5
–
8
]. As wild medicinal resources become increasingly
scarce, the demand has become greater than the supply. People cannot buy CMHs for
preventing and curing COVID-19 [
9
]. CMHs are still the mainstay for about 75 to 80% of
the world’s population—especially in developing countries—for primary health care with
better cultural acceptability, better compatibility with the human body, and reduced side
effects [
10
]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released the “WHO Expert
Evaluation Meeting on Chinese Medicine Treatment of COVID-19” under the relevant
section of its official website, which affirmed CMHs’ safety and effectiveness. Therefore, the
supply of CMHs in the world has decreased, and the demand has proportionally increased.
Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg is an indigenous species that was illegally logged in the
past as an economically important evergreen tree species and a source of agarwood, which
is used for incense and as a uniquely precious medicine for treating depression [
11
]. The
volatile oil of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg has been shown to have good pharmacological
activities towards the central nervous system (CNS) and the levels of adrenocorticotropic
hormone and corticosterone in serum, as well as the expression of corticotropin-releasing
hormone mRNA in the hypothalamus, which indicates the regulation of the over-activation
of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis [
12
]. Thus, there is a high market demand
for agarwood, and this species is heavily overexploited in the wild [
13
,
14
]. Basically,
sustainable development is required “to meet some needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It advocates the idea of sustainable growth,
and it must take into account the social and economic factors as well as the ecological system”,
according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN) [
15
]. As sustainable development is a global concern, it is being brought into more
public policies and facilities that face a most difficult task, especially in some developed
countries and urban city, such as Hong Kong. We lack natural resources, e.g., land, and
environmental protection-based knowledge. The economy is also a prerequisite condition
in society. It is quite hard to maintain a Chinese herbal garden in an urban city.
Furthermore, CMHs should be ecologically balanced and conservation measures
should be employed on their behalf in accordance with sustainable development. Previ-
ously, scientists’ thoughts focused on the sustainable development of the Chinese medicinal
industry with respect to the “high concept” era in order for human society to rationalize the
standard management systems and increase the industry-consolidation layout [
16
]. Besides
this, the application of sustainable practices could be applied in the Belt and Road Initia-
tive’s trade of traditional Chinese medicine. Cultural exchange with other Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) countries, as a result, increases the degree of cooperation in the marketing,
registration, and promotion of CMHs or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products [
17
].
However, these types of sustainable development are mainly implemented in industry and
foreign policy.
Therefore, our research focuses on small-scale sustainable development, which is quite
different from past studies. It involves five major areas: (1) land resources, (2) manpower
planning, (3) the economy, (4) education or training, and (5) the ecosystem (cultivation).
This scheme is employed in order to set up a management model in the community facilities
and build a Chinese herbal garden for the conservation of 62 kinds of CMHs, as well as
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 3 of 23
promote healthy urban environment and give people, including secondary school students,
a chance to learn and understand more about CMHs.
2. Methods
This research project used problem analysis and strategic decisions to develop a
plan for the sustainable development of 62 kinds of CMHs in a Chinese Herbal Garden
(Table 1) [
18
] and implemented a theoretical framework of management models. These
62 CMHs are longevity plants, which have a shortened growth period and are suitable for
Hong Kong’s weather and used as raw materials in Chinese “Herbal Tea”.
Table 1. The 62 kinds of CMHs in a Chinese herbal garden.
Woody Species
Species (Latin Name) English Name Major Function(s) Growth
Environment(s)
Mahonia fortunei (Lindl.)
Fedde
Chinese
Mahonia
Stems (Gonglaomu):
Clear heat, dry dampness, fire retardant,
and resolve toxins
Roots (Shidagonglaogen):
Clear heat, dry dampness,
resolve toxins and relieve swollen sores.
FruitsFruit (Gonglaozi):
Clear deficiency-heat, enrich kidney, dry
dampness.
Grows in valleys and dank
places in forests.
Morus alba L. White Mulberry
Velamen (Sangbaipi):
Drains lungs, calms panting, promotes
urination, eliminates swelling.
Leaves (Sangye):
Disperses wind-heat, clear lungs, moisten
dryness, clear liver, and brighten eyes.
Tender branches (Sangzhi):
Remedies rheumatism and
benefits the joints.
Fruit clusters (Sangshen):
Nourish yin, supplement blood,
engender fluid, moisten dryness.
Grows in hills, on hill-slopes,
near villages, and in fields.
Mostly cultivated.
Tadehagi triquetrum (L.)
Ohashi Calabash
Branches and leaves
(Hulucha):
Clears heat, detoxification,
promotes urination,
reduces effects of jaundice,
reduces accumulation, and anti-parasitic.
Grows in
wastelands, and hill
tussocks at
altitudes
500–700 m.
Gardenia jasminoides
Ellis Gardenia
Mature fruit (Zhizi):
Fire retardant, eliminates vexation, clear
heat, promotes urination, cools blood,
and resolve toxins. Externally used for
dispersing swelling and relieving pain.
Grows in warm, thin forests of
hills or on deserted slopes,
ditch sides, and roadsides.
Lantana camara L. Lantana
Roots (Wusemeigen):
Clear heat and fire retardant, detoxicant,
and remedies stasis.
Leaves or twigs (Wusemeiye):
Clear heat, detoxify, dispel wind, and
antipruritic.
Flowers (Wusemei):
Clear heat, and stops bleeding.
Grows on sandy beaches at
altitudes 80–1500 m,
roadsides, and open fields.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 4 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Woody Species
Species (Latin Name) English Name Major Function(s) Growth
Environment(s)
Liquidambar formosana
Hance Sweet Gum
Jaffaite (Fengxiangzhi):
Boosts blood levels, relieves pain, remove
toxin, muscle stimulant, cools blood, and
stops bleeding.
Mature infructescence
(Luluton):
Dispels wind, frees network
vessels, promotes urination, and frees
blood channels.
Grows in sunny areas,
villages,
montane
ever-green forests, and
broad-leaf forests.
Choerospondias axillaris
(Roxb.) Burtt et Hill Hog Plum
Bark (Wuyanguoshupi):
Clears heat, detoxification, and
antiparasitic.
Fruit (fresh) or kernel (Nansuanzao):
Move qi, invigorates blood, nourishes the
heart and calms the spirits, reduces
accumulations,
detoxification.
Grows on hill slopes at
altitudes 300–2000 m, in hilly
areas, or ravine
forests. Grows well in
sunshine, and can be
fast-growing and
highly adaptable.
Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.)
Nakai Sarcandra
Whole plant (Zhongjiefeng):
Clears heat, cools blood, boosts blood
levels, resolves macula, dispels wind,
and frees network vessels.
Grows in ravines or dank area
in valleys.
Plumeria rubra L. cv.
Acutifolia Pagoda Tree
Flowers or bark (Jidanhua):
Clear heat, disinhibit
dampness and remedies summer heat.
Grows in a warm, humid,
sunny, well-drained
environment.
Platycladus orientalis (L.)
Franco
Chinese
Arborvitae
Mature seed (Baiziren):
Nourishes the heart and calms the spirits,
antiperspirant, moistens the intestines,
and
stool softener.
Shoots and leaves (Cebaiye):
Cools blood, stops bleeding, expectorant,
relieves cough, and promotes hair
growth and darkening.
Grows on moist,
fertile lands and in
limestone
mountains.
Desmos chinensis Lour. Chinese privet
Leaves (Jiubingye):
Dispels wind, disinhibit
dampness, joint relief medicine,
relieves pain, fortifies the spleen and
stomach, anti-malarial, and anti-parasitic.
Roots (Jiayingzhaoge):
Dispels wind, relieves pain, moves qi,
transforms stasis, anti-parasitic, and
antipruritic.
Grows in hillsides, forest-edge
shrubs, or
low-altitude
wilderness,
roadsides, valleys, ditches,
and other places.
Clerodendrum bungei Steud.
Rose Glorybower
Stem leaves (Choumudan):
Clears toxins, anti-inflammatory,
remedies rheumatism, lowers blood
pressure
Roots (Choumudangen):
Promotes qi-flowing, fortify the spleen,
dispel wind
dampness, antitoxin,
dispel swelling, and reduce blood
pressure.
Grows on hill slopes at an
altitude
below 2500 m,
forest margins,
ravines, roadsides, and dank
places in thickets.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 5 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Woody Species
Species (Latin Name) English Name Major Function(s) Growth
Environment(s)
Clerodendrum
fortunatum L. Redcalyx Glorybower
Stems and leaves (Guidenglong):
Clears heat, relieves cough,
resolve toxins, and dispel swelling.
Roots or root coat (Guidenglonggen):
Clears heat, detoxification, cool blood,
and dispels swelling.
Grows on
hill-slopes at an
altitude below 1000 m, hills,
near villages, and on open
fields.
Magnolia biondii Pamp. Biond’s
Magnolia
Buds (Xinyi):
Dispels wind, clears nasal passages.
Grows in forests at
altitudes
600–2100 m.
Ginkgo biloba L. Maidenhair Tree
Mature seed (Baiguo):
Constrains the lungs and
stabilizes panting, reduces vaginal
discharge, and reduces frequency of
urination.
Leaves (Yinxingye):
Astringe lungs, calm panting, invigorate
blood, transform stasis, free channels,
relieve pain, resolve turbidity, and
lower cholesterol.
Grows in natural forests of
acidic soil with good drainage
at altitudes
500–1000 m. Can be
cultivated.
Ficus carica L. Edible Fig
Fruit (Wuhuaguo):
Clears heat, creates fluids, fortifies the
spleen, opens the stomach, resolves
toxins, and dispels swelling.
Grows on warm and
sunward
hill-slopes.
Citrus medica L. var.
sarcodactylis Swingle Finger Citron
Fruit (Foshou):
Circulates fluid in the liver, regulates qi,
harmonizes the stomach, relieves pain,
desiccant, relieves phlegm.
Flowers (Foshouhua):
Circulate fluid in the liver, regulate qi,
and remedy upset stomach and belching.
Roots (Foshougangen):
Regulate qi and relieve phlegm.
Grows in deep, loose, fertile,
well-drained,
mildew-acidic sandy soil rich
in humus.
Cinnamomum cassia Presl Cassia Bark Tree
Trunk and branches’ bark
(Rougui):
Supplements fire, assists yang, conducts
fire to return to its source, warming
agent, relieves pain, warms and frees the
channels and vessels
Branchlet (Guizhi):
Promotes sweating, clears toxins from the
flesh, warms and frees the channels and
vessels, assists yang in transforming qi,
rejuvenates downbeat qi.
Cultivated in sandy soil and
slopes in hilly areas.
Vine Varieties
Species (Latin name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Zehneria indica (Lour.)
Keraudren Indian Zehneria
Tubular roots or whole plant (Mabaoer):
Clears heat, detoxification, removes
swelling, disperses stagnation,
relieve phlegm, and induce
urination.
Grows in damp places in
forests, roadsides, fields, and
thickets.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 6 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Vine Varieties
Species (Latin Name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Zanthoxylum nitidum
(Roxb.) DC.
Shiny-leaved Prickly
Ash
Roots (Liangmianzhen):
Move qi, relieve pain, dispel wind, free
channels, invigorate blood, resolve stasis,
clear toxins, and
dispel swelling.
Born in low hills, bushes,
roadsides, and other sunny
places.
Polygonum multiflorum
Thunb. Tuber Fleece Flower
Tuber (Heshouwu):
Clears toxins, remedies swollen
abscesses, moistens intestines,
anti-constipation agent, and
anti-malarial agent.
Processed tuber
(Zhiheshouwu):
Tonifies the kidneys, supplements blood,
hair-darkening agent, strengthens
muscles and bones, resolves
turbidity, and
lowers cholesterol.
Cane (Yejiaoteng):
Nourishes blood and calms mental state,
dispels wind, and frees network vessels.
Grows in grasslands, on
roadsides, hillsides, rock
crevices, and bushes.
Gynoacemma pentaphyllum
(Thunb) Mak
Five-leaf
Gynostemma
Aboveground parts (Jiaogulan):
Cooling agent, supplement
deficiency, clear toxins.
Grows in thick forests of
valleys, thin forests on
mountain slopes,
thickets, or roadside
tussocks at altitudes
300–3200 m.
Lonicera japonica Thunb. Japanese
Honeysuckle
Flower bud, possibly with recently
opened flowers (Jinyinhua):
Clears heat, resolves toxins,
disperses wind-heat.
Branches (Rendongteng):
Clears heat, resolves toxin, dispel wind,
free channels.
Grows in thin forests on hill
slopes, in thickets, by villages,
roadsides.
Asparagus cochinchinensis
(Lour.) Merr.
Wild
Asparagus
Earthnut (Tiandong):
Nourishes yin, moistening agent, clears
lungs, and engenders fluid.
Grows in dank places of
mountains.
Herbal Variety
Species (Latin name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Artemisia indica Willd. Mugwort
Leaves (Aiye):
Warm channels, stop bleeding, disperse
cold, relieve pain, desiccant, and
antipruritic.
Grows on wet
forest margins, slopes,
scrublands, or forest
grasslands at low to
mid-altitude.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 7 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Herbal Variety
Species (Latin Name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Leonurus japonicus Houtt. Wormwood-like
Motherwort
Fresh or aboveground parts (Yimucao):
Invigorate blood, aid
menstruation, induce
urination, reduce swelling, cooling agent,
and detoxicant.
Mature fruit (Chongweizi):
Invigorate the blood, regulate
menstruation, clear the liver, and
brighten the eyes.
Flowers (Yimucaohua):
Nourish blood, invigorate blood, and
promote
urination.
Grows on ridges, roadsides,
streams, or hillside grasslands,
mostly in sunny
areas, growing up to 3000 m
above sea level.
Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Fishwort
Whole fresh plant or aboveground
parts (Yuxingcao):
Cooling agent, antitoxin,
expel pus, relieve swollen abscess,
promote urination, and relieve strangury.
Grows in ditches, streams, or
wetlands under the
forest.
Crotalaria pallida Ait. Smooth
Crotalaria
Whole plant (Zhushidou):
Cooling agent, moisturizer, detoxicant,
and
relieves stasis.
Roots (Zhushidougen):
Detoxicant, resolve stasis,
and eliminate stagnation.
Grows in barren grasslands
and sandy soils.
Platycodon grandiflorum
(Jacq.) A. DC. Balloon flower
Roots (Jiegeng):
Diffuse the lungs, promote the throat,
eliminate phlegm, and expel pus.
Grows on mountain grass
slopes, forest margins, or
cultivated.
Mesona chinensis Benth. Chinese
Jellygrass
Aboveground parts
(Lianggencao):
Relieves summer-heat
syndrome, clears heat, cools blood, and
detoxification.
Grows in lime
martinis and dry sandy land
grass.
Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.)
Gaertn.
Mock
Ginseng
Roots (Turenshen):
Tonifies qi, moistens lungs, relieves
cough, and regulates menstruation.
Grows in humid places.
Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. Common Perilla
Leaves (or small soft branches with
leaves) (Zisuye):
Skin clarifier, disperses cold, moves qi,
and harmonizes the stomach.
Mature fruit (Zisuzi):
Aids downbeat qi, expectorant, relieves
cough, calms panting, moistens
intestines, and softens stool.
Stems (Zisugeng):
Moves qi, expands the center, calms fetus,
and relieves pain.
Grows in the
wasteland or
cultivated in
gardens.
Pogonatherum
crinitum
(Thunb.) Kunth
Goldensilk Grass
Whole plant (Jinsicao):
Clears heat, detoxification, cools blood,
stops bleeding, and
moisturizes.
Grows in
riversides, wall crevices,
hillsides, and wet fields.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 8 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Herbal Variety
Species (Latin Name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Zingiber officinale Rosc. Ginger
Dried rhizome or earthnut (Ganjiang):
Warms torso, restores yang and frees
arteries and veins, warms the lungs to
clear phlegm.
Prepared dried rhizome or earthnut
(Paojiang):
Warms channels, stops
bleeding, warms the body, and relieves
pain.
Fresh rhizome (Shengjiang):
Antiperspirant, resolves exterior, warms
body cavity, antiemetic, expectorant,
relieves cough, removes fish and crab
toxins, resolves medicinal toxin-based
illness.
Rhizome (Jiangpi):
Circulates bodily fluids and disperses
swelling.
Grows on sloping and slightly
shady plots.
Nephrolepis auriculata (L.)
Trimen Tuberous Sword Fern
Rhizome, leaves, or entire plant
(Shenjue):
Clears heat, induces urination, treats
strangury, relieves cough, disperses
swelling, and detoxification.
Grows in forests by streams,
30–1500 m above sea level.
Cassia tora L. Sickle Senna
Seeds (Juemingzi):
Clears heat for improving
eyesight, moistening the
intestines and freeing the stool.
Grows on
roadsides, open fields, or
hillsides.
Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb.
et Zucc. Tigen stick
Roots and rhizomes
(Huzhang):
Induces urination, treats
jaundice, clears heat, resolves toxin,
disperse stasis, relieve pain, stops cough,
and acts as expectorant.
Grows in valleys, streams, or
on shores.
Liriope spicata (Thunb.)
Lour. Lily Turf
Tuber (Damaidong):
Yin-nourishing and liquid-engendering
properties.
Grows on hillsides, valleys,
forests, roadsides, or wetlands
at an altitude of 50–1400 m.
Zingiber zerumbet (Linn.)
Roscose ex Smith Ball Ginger
Rhizome (Hongqiujiang):
Promotes blood circulation for dispelling
stasis, promotes qi-flowing to suppress
pain, warm core and arrests
diarrhea, disperses
accumulation, and stimulates muscles.
Grows in moist places
under
forests.
Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.)
Roxb. Spreading Hedyotis
Entire plant with roots
(Baihuasheshecao):
Cooling agent, detoxicant, and
induces urination.
Grown along
humid field edges, ditch sides,
roadsides, and grasslands.
Coleus amboinicus Lour. Cuban
Oregano
Whole plant (Daoshouxiang):
Cools, anti-inflammatory, used to expel
wind, and
resolve toxins.
Grows in sunny
environments.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 9 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Herbal Variety
Species (Latin Name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Pogostemon cablin (Blanco)
Benth. Patchouli
Aboveground parts (Guanghuoxiang):
Fragrances, eliminates dampness,
harmonizes the stomach for stopping
vomiting, to prevent heat stroke, and to
resolve
exterior.
Grows in the hot and
humid
climate.
Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. Zingiberaceae
Rhizome (Ezhu):
Activates qi-flow, circulates blood to
dissipate stasis, and relieves pain.
Earthnut (Yujin):
Circulates blood, relieves pain, activates
qi-flow, removes
restlessness, and soothes liver and
gallbladder.
Grows in the shade.
Impatiens balsamina L. Garden
Balsam
Flowers (Fengxianhua):
Dispels pathogenic wind and remove
dampness, promote blood circulation to
suppress pain, used as detoxicant and
antiparasitic agent.
Roots (Fengxiangen):
Promotes blood circulation to relieve
pain and
disinhibit dampness for
detumescence.
Seeds (Jixingzi):
Resolve stasis and downbeat qi-flow,
soften and dissipate binds.
Stems (Fengxiantougucao):
Dispel wind-dampness, promote blood
circulation to relieve pain, and
detoxication.
Grows in a sunny, warm,
humid
environment and gardens.
Duchesnea indica (Andr.)
Focke
Indian Mock
Strawberry
Whole plant (Shemei):
Clears heat-related toxin, dissipates stasis
for detumescence, cools blood, and
relieves hemorrhages.
Grows on
hill-slopes, riverbanks,
grassland, or moist places.
Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees)
Bremek.
Flaccid
Conehead
Rhizomes and roots (Nanbanlangen):
Clears heat and detoxification; used to
cool blood and soothe the throat.
Powder or clumps processed from
leaves or stem (Qingdai):
Clears heat and detoxification; used to
cool blood, eliminate spots, and relieve
excessive heat and relieve paranoia.
Leaves (Nanbanlanye):
Clears heat and detoxification; used to
cool blood and relieve hemorrhage.
Grows in damp places.
Acorus tatarinowii Schott Grass leaf sweet flag
rhizome
Rhizome (Shichangpu):
Opens orifices, clears phlegm, arouses
spirits, sharpens the mind, promotes
dampening properties, opens stomach.
Grows in wetlands or on rocks
by the stream.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 10 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Herbal Variety
Species (Latin Name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Lilium lancifolium Thunb Tiger Liliy
Bulb (Baihe):
Nourishes yin and moistens the lungs;
clears heart burn to
promote calmness.
Grows under shrubs on
hillsides,
meadows,
roadsides, or in
water.
Hemerocallis fulva (L.) L. Orange
Daylily
Roots (Xuancaogen):
Clears heat, induces urination, cools
blood, and relieves
hemorrhages; resolves toxins; and used
to stop swelling.
Tender seedlings (Xuancaonenmiao):
Clears heat, and induces urination.
Grow under shrubs on
hillsides,
meadows,
roadsides, or
water.
Mimosa pudica L. Sensitive Plant
Whole plant (Hanxiucao):
Clears heat, and disinhibits urine, calms
mental state, and calms mental state,
cools blood, and detoxification.
Roots (Hanxiucaogen):
Used to suppress cough and dissipate
phlegm, disinhibit dampness to free
network vessels, and improve eyesight as
well as calm mental state, and harmonize
stomach to
disperse accumulations.
Grows in bushes in the wild.
Stachytarpheta
jamaicensis (L.) Vahl
Jamaica
Vervain
Whole plant and roots (Yulongbian):
Clears heat, disinhibits
dampness, resolves toxins and to dispel
swelling.
Grows in the shady and damp
grass in the valley at an
altitude of
300–580 m.
Rhoeo discolor
(L’ Herit.) Hance Oyster plant
Flowers (Banglanhua):
Clears the lungs to dissipate phlegm,
used to cool blood and relieve
hemorrhaging, and detoxification to treat
dysentery.
Leaves (Banglanye):
Clears heat, detoxification, resolves stasis,
and stops blood loss.
Artificial
cultivation in
gardens and
flowerbeds.
Chrysanthemum
morifolium Ramat.
Common
Chrysanthemum
Capitulum (Juhua):
Dispels pathogenic wind-heat,
suppresses
hyperactive liver to improve eyesight,
removes toxin regarding detumescence.
Young leaves (Juhuamiao):
Used to clear liver and brighten the eyes.
Leaves (Juhuaye):
Used to clear liver and brighten eyes,
resolve toxins, and to dispel
swelling.
Cultivated; grow in warm,
humid climates and sunny
locations.
Polygonum chinense L. China
Knotweed
Aboveground parts
(Huotanmucao):
Clears heat and drains
dampness and cools blood,
detoxification, used to suppress
hyperactive liver to improve eyesight,
activate blood, and comfort sinew.
Grows in valleys, by
waterside, and wetlands.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 11 of 23
Table 1. Cont.
Herbal Variety
Species (Latin Name) English Names Main Function Grow
Environment
Ruta graveolens L. Rue
Whole plant (Choucao):
Expels wind, clears heat,
disperses swelling, removes
toxins, activates blood, and
disperses stasis.
It is a cultivated species; it is
cultivated in greenhouses
north of the Yangtze River.
Saxifraga stolonifera Curt. Huercao
Whole plant (Huercao):
Dispels pathogenic wind, clears heat,
provides detoxifying effects, and cools
blood.
Grows in forests, shrubs,
meadows, and wet rock
crevices at an
altitude of
400–4500 m.
Murdannia bracteata (C. B.
Clarke) O. Kuntze ex J. K.
Morton
Largebract
Waterbamboo
Whole plant (Tanhuocao):
Dissipates phlegm and
dissipates binds, clears heat for relieving
strangury.
Grows on lime martinis at
altitudes 500–850 m and
under the
jungle.
Zephyranthes candida
(Lindl.) Herb. Autumn Zephyrlily
Whole plant (Ganfengcao):
Suppresses hyperactive liver and
pathogenic wind.
Grows in bushes,
roadsides, or
gardens, and for
ornamental use.
Aloe barbadensis
Miller Aloe Vera
Dried products concentrated from leaf
juice (Luhui):
Drain fluids from extremities, promotes
purgation, and used to clear liver, relieve
heat stress, and
destroy parasites to cure
malnutrition.
Grows in rock and soil,
cultivated.
Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Asiatic Pennywort
Whole plant (Jixuecao):
Clears heat and promotes
dieresis, resolves toxins, and
disperses swelling.
Grows in shady and wet
grasslands, fields, and ditches
at an altitude of
200–1990 m.
Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene Lippia
nodiflora
Whole plant (Penglaicao):
Clears heat and used for detoxification.
Grows in humid places such
as hillsides, flat land, river
beaches, etc. at an altitude of
300–2300 m.
Dendrobium officinale
Kimura et Migo
Noble
Dendrobium
Stems (Shihu):
Engenders liquid for nourishing the
stomach and clears heat.
Grows on the trunk of thin
forests at an altitude
below 1600 m or on
semi-dank rocks in a
ravine.
Examples of these management models include (a) ten secondary schools (Figure 1),
(b) aroma garden of L’Occitane at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of
Hong Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus (Figure 2), and (c) land from the Far East Consortium
International Limited in Sai Kung Pak Kong (Figure 3), which were developed for the
cultivation and conservation of CMHs and the promotion of a healthy urban environment.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 12 of 23
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 23
(1) (2)
(3) (4)
(5) (6)
Figure 1. Cont.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 13 of 23
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 13 of 23
(7) (8)
(9) (10)
Figure 1. Ten secondary schools. (1) Yan Chai Hospital No.2 Secondary School. (2) Diocesan Boys’
School. (3) Tung Wah Group Hospitals Chun Yuk Ma Memorial College. (4) Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit
Sing (1983) College. (5) Pope Paul VI College. (6) The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School. (7) Sing Yin Secondary School. (8) Fukien Secondary School
(Siu Sai Wan). (9) Fung Kai No.1 Secondary School. (10) Kiangsu Chekiang College.
Figure 2. Aroma garden of L’Occitane at The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong
Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus.
Figure 1.
Ten secondary schools. (
1
) Yan Chai Hospital No.2 Secondary School. (
2
) Diocesan Boys’
School. (
3
) Tung Wah Group Hospitals Chun Yuk Ma Memorial College. (
4
) Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit
Sing (1983) College. (
5
) Pope Paul VI College. (
6
) The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School. (
7
) Sing Yin Secondary School. (
8
) Fukien Secondary School
(Siu Sai Wan). (9) Fung Kai No.1 Secondary School. (10) Kiangsu Chekiang College.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 13 of 23
(7) (8)
(9) (10)
Figure 1. Ten secondary schools. (1) Yan Chai Hospital No.2 Secondary School. (2) Diocesan Boys’
School. (3) Tung Wah Group Hospitals Chun Yuk Ma Memorial College. (4) Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit
Sing (1983) College. (5) Pope Paul VI College. (6) The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School. (7) Sing Yin Secondary School. (8) Fukien Secondary School
(Siu Sai Wan). (9) Fung Kai No.1 Secondary School. (10) Kiangsu Chekiang College.
Figure 2. Aroma garden of L’Occitane at The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong
Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus.
Figure 2.
Aroma garden of L’Occitane at The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong
Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 14 of 23
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 14 of 23
Figure 3. Land from the Far East Consortium. International Limited in Sai Kung Pak Kong.
3. Sustainability Issues of a Chinese Herbal Garden in Hong Kong’s Urban City
Currently, the possible sustainability issues consist of [19]:
(1) A lack of environmental afforestation (land resources)
Land resources are an important part of Hong Kong’s sustainable development.
Hong Kong requires careful planning to ensure that every inch of land can be fully utilized
to meet the development needs of the city.
As the geography of Hong Kong is more mountainous and less flat, land farming
only accounts for about 18 square kilometers, mainly concentrated in the northern New
Territories. The abandoned and fallow agricultural land accounts for about 70% of the
total agricultural land.
(2) Small population for participation (Manpower planning)
Hong Kong’s was dominated by industry in 1970; then, the financial industry was
developed. With universal education, it is more difficult to attract young people to em-
ployment in agriculture as opposed to other industries. The previous generation retired
with no replacement.
(3) Finance (Economy)
Results cannot be achieved through sustainable development in a short period. It re-
quires a long-term plan. Funding operations are needed in all aspects, including operation
and management, but Hong Kong lacks support in this regard, e.g., the salary of employ-
ees is higher in other jobs.
(4 and 5) A lack of knowledge and cultivation skills (Education and training as well
as Cultivation)
Experienced farmers have retired, and there is insufficient information regarding, for
example, education or training in terms of cultivation, leading to inadequate skills to im-
prove planting.
Based on the above sustainability issues that have occurred in a Chinese Herbal Gar-
den, a management model must be established.
4. Management Model
The management model (Figure 4) of a Chinese Herbal Garden was developed for
secondary schools, including Aroma garden of L’Occitane at the Technological and
Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus, and a patch of land in
Sai Kung Pak Kong, which consisted of five major sustainability areas: (1) Land resources,
(2) Manpower planning, (3) Economy, (4) Education or Training, and (5) Ecosystem (Cul-
tivation), which achieved a sustainable system for CMHs. A workflow of the Chinese
Herbal Garden involved a relationship between secondary schools, a private company,
and the community that enhanced the interest in CMHs for students and the public. There
are no economic issues for the Chinese Herbal Garden because it is self-supported, which
is the most important advantage and leads to a win–win situation.
Figure 3. Land from the Far East Consortium. International Limited in Sai Kung Pak Kong.
3. Sustainability Issues of a Chinese Herbal Garden in Hong Kong’s Urban City
Currently, the possible sustainability issues consist of [19]:
(1) A lack of environmental afforestation (land resources)
Land resources are an important part of Hong Kong’s sustainable development. Hong
Kong requires careful planning to ensure that every inch of land can be fully utilized to
meet the development needs of the city.
As the geography of Hong Kong is more mountainous and less flat, land farming
only accounts for about 18 square kilometers, mainly concentrated in the northern New
Territories. The abandoned and fallow agricultural land accounts for about 70% of the total
agricultural land.
(2) Small population for participation (Manpower planning)
Hong Kong’s was dominated by industry in 1970; then, the financial industry was
developed. With universal education, it is more difficult to attract young people to employ-
ment in agriculture as opposed to other industries. The previous generation retired with
no replacement.
(3) Finance (Economy)
Results cannot be achieved through sustainable development in a short period. It
requires a long-term plan. Funding operations are needed in all aspects, including operation
and management, but Hong Kong lacks support in this regard, e.g., the salary of employees
is higher in other jobs.
(4 and 5) A lack of knowledge and cultivation skills (Education and training as well as
Cultivation)
Experienced farmers have retired, and there is insufficient information regarding,
for example, education or training in terms of cultivation, leading to inadequate skills to
improve planting.
Based on the above sustainability issues that have occurred in a Chinese Herbal
Garden, a management model must be established.
4. Management Model
The management model (Figure 4) of a Chinese Herbal Garden was developed for
secondary schools, including Aroma garden of L’Occitane at the Technological and Higher
Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus, and a patch of land in Sai
Kung Pak Kong, which consisted of five major sustainability areas: (1) Land resources,
(2) Manpower planning, (3) Economy, (4) Education or Training, and (5) Ecosystem (Culti-
vation), which achieved a sustainable system for CMHs. A workflow of the Chinese Herbal
Garden involved a relationship between secondary schools, a private company, and the
community that enhanced the interest in CMHs for students and the public. There are no
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 15 of 23
economic issues for the Chinese Herbal Garden because it is self-supported, which is the
most important advantage and leads to a win–win situation.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 15 of 23
Figure 4. Management model for a Chinese Herbal Garden.
This management model also can be implemented in the five elements of the TCM
theory including wood, fire, earth, gold, and water (Figure 5). Wood is managing and
making efforts (Education or Training); fire is motivation and emotions (Manpower plan-
ning); earth is the usage and operation of land (Land resources); gold is the operation and
management budget (Economy). Water is an important resource in the ecosystem for cul-
tivation.
Figure 5. Management model for traditional Chinese medicine theory of a Chinese herbal garden.
4.1. Land Resources
Land resources are the most important aspect of sustainable development. Hong
Kong has a large population situated in a small area with limited land resources; therefore,
the Hong Kong Government is implementing the “Greening Scheme” in Hong Kong’s
different districts, namely, Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Hung Hom,
Mong Kok, and Kwun Tong, which are introducing “green corridors” to enhance envi-
ronmental quality with a focus on greening the streets with dense buildings by using pot-
ted plants to enhance the green landscape [20].
The Hong Kong Government also recently launched the “Agricultural Land Restora-
tion Project”, which matches farmers with private landowners to try institute abandoned
Chinese
herbal
garden
Land
resources
Manpower
planning
Economy
Education
or Training
Ecosystem
(Cultivation)
Wood
(Education or
Training)
Fire
(Manpower
planning)
Earth
(Land
resources)
Gold
(Economy)
Water
(Ecosystem
in
(Cultivation)
Figure 4. Management model for a Chinese Herbal Garden.
This management model also can be implemented in the five elements of the TCM the-
ory including wood, fire, earth, gold, and water (Figure 5). Wood is managing and making
efforts (Education or Training); fire is motivation and emotions (Manpower planning); earth
is the usage and operation of land (Land resources); gold is the operation and management
budget (Economy). Water is an important resource in the ecosystem for cultivation.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 15 of 23
Figure 4. Management model for a Chinese Herbal Garden.
This management model also can be implemented in the five elements of the TCM
theory including wood, fire, earth, gold, and water (Figure 5). Wood is managing and
making efforts (Education or Training); fire is motivation and emotions (Manpower plan-
ning); earth is the usage and operation of land (Land resources); gold is the operation and
management budget (Economy). Water is an important resource in the ecosystem for cul-
tivation.
Figure 5. Management model for traditional Chinese medicine theory of a Chinese herbal garden.
4.1. Land Resources
Land resources are the most important aspect of sustainable development. Hong
Kong has a large population situated in a small area with limited land resources; therefore,
the Hong Kong Government is implementing the “Greening Scheme” in Hong Kong’s
different districts, namely, Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Hung Hom,
Mong Kok, and Kwun Tong, which are introducing “green corridors” to enhance envi-
ronmental quality with a focus on greening the streets with dense buildings by using pot-
ted plants to enhance the green landscape [20].
The Hong Kong Government also recently launched the “Agricultural Land Restora-
tion Project”, which matches farmers with private landowners to try institute abandoned
Chinese
herbal
garden
Land
resources
Manpower
planning
Economy
Education
or Training
Ecosystem
(Cultivation)
Wood
(Education or
Training)
Fire
(Manpower
planning)
Earth
(Land
resources)
Gold
(Economy)
Water
(Ecosystem
in
(Cultivation)
Figure 5. Management model for traditional Chinese medicine theory of a Chinese herbal garden.
4.1. Land Resources
Land resources are the most important aspect of sustainable development. Hong Kong
has a large population situated in a small area with limited land resources; therefore, the
Hong Kong Government is implementing the “Greening Scheme” in Hong Kong’s different
districts, namely, Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Hung Hom, Mong Kok,
and Kwun Tong, which are introducing “green corridors” to enhance environmental quality
with a focus on greening the streets with dense buildings by using potted plants to enhance
the green landscape [20].
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 16 of 23
The Hong Kong Government also recently launched the “Agricultural Land Restora-
tion Project”, which matches farmers with private landowners to try institute abandoned
agricultural land restoration. Our patch of land in the Far East Consortium International
Limited in Sai Kung Pak Kong is an example of restoration work, as well as the cultivation
and conservation of CMHs. The area is being weeded to have it prepared in time for
the conservation of some CMHs, such as Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. (Figure 6), Schefflera
octophylla (Lour.) Harms (Figure 7), Lantana camara L. (Figure 8), Tadehagi triquetrum (L.)
Ohashi (Figure 9), Hedyotis hedyotidea (DC.) Merr. (Figure 10), Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr.
(Figure 11), and Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai (Figure 12). However, the development
and conservation of the Chinese Herbal Garden still rely on student participation and
motivation. The benefits of this eco-farm cannot be fully realized until it is known what
teachers and college students think of them and how they plan to use them [
21
]. How
do we continue the sustainable development of the Chinese herbal garden? Basically,
self-finance and operation are the central ideas for developing our Chinese Herbal Garden.
Since the land resources are limited and labor participation with high-salary employment is
difficult to ensure, it is in turn difficult to establish a Chinese Herbal Garden in an urban city.
However, the management model in item 4 with five important elements can overcome
these problems. We expect to provide a green environment in a concrete jungle, with a
specific focus on Hong Kong.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 16 of 23
agricultural land restoration. Our patch of land in the Far East Consortium International
Limited in Sai Kung Pak Kong is an example of restoration work, as well as the cultivation
and conservation of CMHs. The area is being weeded to have it prepared in time for the
conservation of some CMHs, such as Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. (Figure 6), Schefflera octo-
phylla (Lour.) Harms (Figure 7), Lantana camara L. (Figure 8), Tadehagi triquetrum (L.)
Ohashi (Figure 9), Hedyotis hedyotidea (DC.) Merr. (Figure 10), Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr.
(Figure 11), and Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai (Figure 12). However, the development
and conservation of the Chinese Herbal Garden still rely on student participation and mo-
tivation. The benefits of this eco-farm cannot be fully realized until it is known what teach-
ers and college students think of them and how they plan to use them [21]. How do we
continue the sustainable development of the Chinese herbal garden? Basically, self-fi-
nance and operation are the central ideas for developing our Chinese Herbal Garden.
Since the land resources are limited and labor participation with high-salary employment
is difficult to ensure, it is in turn difficult to establish a Chinese Herbal Garden in an urban
city. However, the management model in item 4 with five important elements can over-
come these problems. We expect to provide a green environment in a concrete jungle, with
a specific focus on Hong Kong.
Figure 6. Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.
Figure 7. Schefflera octophylla (Lour.) Harms.
Figure 6. Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 16 of 23
agricultural land restoration. Our patch of land in the Far East Consortium International
Limited in Sai Kung Pak Kong is an example of restoration work, as well as the cultivation
and conservation of CMHs. The area is being weeded to have it prepared in time for the
conservation of some CMHs, such as Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. (Figure 6), Schefflera octo-
phylla (Lour.) Harms (Figure 7), Lantana camara L. (Figure 8), Tadehagi triquetrum (L.)
Ohashi (Figure 9), Hedyotis hedyotidea (DC.) Merr. (Figure 10), Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr.
(Figure 11), and Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai (Figure 12). However, the development
and conservation of the Chinese Herbal Garden still rely on student participation and mo-
tivation. The benefits of this eco-farm cannot be fully realized until it is known what teach-
ers and college students think of them and how they plan to use them [21]. How do we
continue the sustainable development of the Chinese herbal garden? Basically, self-fi-
nance and operation are the central ideas for developing our Chinese Herbal Garden.
Since the land resources are limited and labor participation with high-salary employment
is difficult to ensure, it is in turn difficult to establish a Chinese Herbal Garden in an urban
city. However, the management model in item 4 with five important elements can over-
come these problems. We expect to provide a green environment in a concrete jungle, with
a specific focus on Hong Kong.
Figure 6. Brucea javanica (L.) Merr.
Figure 7. Schefflera octophylla (Lour.) Harms.
Figure 7. Schefflera octophylla (Lour.) Harms.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 17 of 23
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 17 of 23
Figure 8. Lantana camara L.
Figure 9. Tadehagi triquetrum (L.) Ohashi.
Figure 10. Hedyotis hedyotidea (DC.) Merr.
Figure 8. Lantana camara L.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 17 of 23
Figure 8. Lantana camara L.
Figure 9. Tadehagi triquetrum (L.) Ohashi.
Figure 10. Hedyotis hedyotidea (DC.) Merr.
Figure 9. Tadehagi triquetrum (L.) Ohashi.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 17 of 23
Figure 8. Lantana camara L.
Figure 9. Tadehagi triquetrum (L.) Ohashi.
Figure 10. Hedyotis hedyotidea (DC.) Merr.
Figure 10. Hedyotis hedyotidea (DC.) Merr.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 18 of 23
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 18 of 23
Figure 11. Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr.
Figure 12. Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai.
4.2. Manpower Planning
Human resources are another important issue in which a high salary increment is
required for the recruitment of employees, including managers, garden coordinators, gar-
deners, etc. Although we may recruit part-time volunteers from the social community,
they are time-restricted and are not familiar with Chinese herbal gardens; therefore, train-
ing is required, which is another cost. We would like to allow our students to solve this
problem. As the THEi advocated for students’ work-integrated learning before gradua-
tion, if the students study and work in the Chinese Herbal Garden through practicing
hours, we will have found a good way to save extra money and time.
The Chinese Herbal Garden fulfills the social responsibility of helping disadvantaged
groups. It offers CMHs employment training courses and uses Chinese Herbal Gardens
as learning places to train disadvantaged groups who are interested in joining our Chinese
Herbal Garden and enhancing their employability.
4.3. Economy
The Chinese herbal gardens are temporarily supported by the Chinese Medicine De-
velopment Fund, or Environment and Conservation Fund, but the resources are unstable
and will not be provided within several years or earlier. A long-term financial plan and
collaboration with a Nonprofit organization (NPO) for the sustainable development of
Chinese Herbal Gardens should be considered.
Meanwhile, the Chinese herbal gardens may impose entry fees if opened to the public
on holidays. The students led the participants to travel around Chinese herbal gardens,
Figure 11. Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr.
Sustainability 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 18 of 23
Figure 11. Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr.
Figure 12. Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai.
4.2. Manpower Planning
Human resources are another important issue in which a high salary increment is
required for the recruitment of employees, including managers, garden coordinators, gar-
deners, etc. Although we may recruit part-time volunteers from the social community,
they are time-restricted and are not familiar with Chinese herbal gardens; therefore, train-
ing is required, which is another cost. We would like to allow our students to solve this
problem. As the THEi advocated for students’ work-integrated learning before gradua-
tion, if the students study and work in the Chinese Herbal Garden through practicing
hours, we will have found a good way to save extra money and time.
The Chinese Herbal Garden fulfills the social responsibility of helping disadvantaged
groups. It offers CMHs employment training courses and uses Chinese Herbal Gardens
as learning places to train disadvantaged groups who are interested in joining our Chinese
Herbal Garden and enhancing their employability.
4.3. Economy
The Chinese herbal gardens are temporarily supported by the Chinese Medicine De-
velopment Fund, or Environment and Conservation Fund, but the resources are unstable
and will not be provided within several years or earlier. A long-term financial plan and
collaboration with a Nonprofit organization (NPO) for the sustainable development of
Chinese Herbal Gardens should be considered.
Meanwhile, the Chinese herbal gardens may impose entry fees if opened to the public
on holidays. The students led the participants to travel around Chinese herbal gardens,
Figure 12. Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai.
4.2. Manpower Planning
Human resources are another important issue in which a high salary increment is
required for the recruitment of employees, including managers, garden coordinators,
gardeners, etc. Although we may recruit part-time volunteers from the social community,
they are time-restricted and are not familiar with Chinese herbal gardens; therefore, training
is required, which is another cost. We would like to allow our students to solve this problem.
As the THEi advocated for students’ work-integrated learning before graduation, if the
students study and work in the Chinese Herbal Garden through practicing hours, we will
have found a good way to save extra money and time.
The Chinese Herbal Garden fulfills the social responsibility of helping disadvantaged
groups. It offers CMHs employment training courses and uses Chinese Herbal Gardens as
learning places to train disadvantaged groups who are interested in joining our Chinese
Herbal Garden and enhancing their employability.
4.3. Economy
The Chinese herbal gardens are temporarily supported by the Chinese Medicine
Development Fund, or Environment and Conservation Fund, but the resources are unstable
and will not be provided within several years or earlier. A long-term financial plan and
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 19 of 23
collaboration with a Nonprofit organization (NPO) for the sustainable development of
Chinese Herbal Gardens should be considered.
Meanwhile, the Chinese herbal gardens may impose entry fees if opened to the
public on holidays. The students led the participants to travel around Chinese herbal
gardens, identifying common herbal plants in Hong Kong, gaining basic knowledge of
their medicinal properties, and joining workshops or seminars on the application of CMHs.
These activities were required at their own expense to balance the administration and
operation costs for Chinese herbal gardens.
In addition, the CMH business line was established for the area in Sai Kung Pak
Kong. Many research projects would be conducted in the Chinese Medicine and Culture
Research Center of THEi, such as the research and development of Organic Local Heritage
Products, e.g., Herbal Tea, Chinese herbal Foot Bath packs, Chinese herbal essential oils,
and Chinese herbal skin products, etc., since they are common and usually used in daily
life. These research products could be promoted and sold in the market. All of these
are made on a small scale first, and then the market result was awaited. If the product
is market-recognized and the technology becomes mature, the products could be mass-
produced. These will bring considerable income, but this is at the beginning phase. This
would build up the brand and allow for collaboration with other businesses. Recently,
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has provided a great business opportunity, wherein
products might be accessed from other markets or countries, leading to a steady income
of the Chinese Herb gardens without a pause or interruption. The products are signed as
“Hong Kong Production”, starting from CMHs cultivation, quality control (safety issues),
and development, which are performed by our institution.
4.4. Education and Training
The Chinese Herbal Garden is an educational or teaching resource, thus it functions as
a supplementary information center for secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
4.4.1. Secondary School
Traditional lessons are boring for secondary school students; they just listen and read
the information from books. Some concepts are difficult to understand and realize. This
is an ineffective form of learning. Knowledge should coexist with theory and either one
cannot be excluded. Students may exhibit critical thinking with the help of the Chinese
Herbal Garden by using their knowledge to practice theory. The integration of the Chinese
Herbal Garden-based strategy (CHGBS) into teaching and learning improved the students’
academic performances and changed their lifelong learning skills and view of nature [22].
The CHGBS also has been shown to be a positive influence on social and emotional
learning (SEL) including relationship skills, responsible decision making, self-awareness,
social awareness, and self-management [
23
], since the secondary school students had to
work in the Chinese Herbal Garden independently, try to cultivate CMHs by themselves,
and were required to make some decisions during the cultivation of the CMHs.
In addition, the CHGBS altered the students’ mental statuses and enabled increased
physical activity since the Chinese Herbal Garden-based strategy enables outdoor activities
and lessons not limited to classrooms; this is a benefit for the students who cannot accept
cramming-style education and who do not excel in classroom activities. Outdoor activities
change students’ minds, allowing them to become relaxed and thereby enabling them to
achieve their studies with half the effort.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Herbal Garden integrates Chinese medicine into the campus,
which might allow teachers and students to attain a better understanding of Chinese
medicinal culture and its application in daily life, e.g., in diet and nutrition. CMHs are
related to food, i.e., “Homology of Medicine and Food”. Many foods are medicines, and
there is no absolute dividing line between them. A Chinese Herbal Garden acts as a
sustainable food system [
24
], either producing herbals or cooking foods with herbals as
natural resources. This is an example of students learning from life. The concept is most
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 20 of 23
similar to STEM education, which is positioned to develop diverse student potentials in
order to meet future challenges, especially with respect to enhancing students’ learning
abilities and improving their critical thinking skills [
25
]. The Chinese herbal garden exposed
the secondary students and started their training in CMHs earlier.
4.4.2. Tertiary Institution
Apart from the above advantages, the establishment of a Chinese Herbal Garden
in a tertiary institution had greater use and effectiveness compared with the secondary
school, especially at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong
(THEi) Tsing Yi campus. Since THEi developed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chinese
Medicinal Pharmacy course to admit tertiary students, the Chinese Herbal Garden would
play an educational role through its use in the practical section for specific disciplines,
such as phytochemistry, macroscopic authentication in Chinese Materia Medica, medical
botany, horticulture, and pharmacology [
26
–
29
]. This is a 4-year degree program, and
with the help of the sustainable development of a Chinese Herbal Garden, most of the
students are trained, graduate successfully, and can be employed as regulatory officers
of Chinese medicine-related government departments or public organizations, Chinese
pharmacy management or executive staff, production or quality control personnel of
Chinese and Western medicine factories, Chinese medicine-testing or appraisal personnel,
and Proprietary Chinese Medicine Registrars. Thus, the Aroma Garden was established at
the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus.
Aroma Gardens would be linked with education, working relationships, and the pub-
lic [
30
] because it is open to the outside world and organizes different interest classes and
volunteer activities, which provide a platform for the popularization of CMHs community
education.
THEi would hold educational events regularly with the help of the Chinese Herbal
Gardens, such as seminars on Chinese Medicinal culture. The content included “Chinese
Herbal Medicine for COVID-19 and Chinese Herbal Medicine Cultivation”, “The Evolution
of Chinese Medicine Preparations”, etc. Workshops were also organized regarding Chinese
Medicine preparations for the students and the public, including the production of comfrey
balm, Jie Geng Granules, and Liuwei Dihuang Wan. Furthermore, secondary schools were
invited to a community exhibition to share their thoughts on the CMHs project, which
exhibited authentic Chinese herbal medicine and educated the public. Where did the
financial support or economic funding originate from for these operations? It will suffice to
say that the economy was a great challenge for Chinese Herbal Gardens.
4.5. Ecosystem
Cultivation is a part of an ecosystem and a branch of agricultural science that discussed
the principles and operations of garden management for CMHs [
31
]. The WHO and
the European Medicines Agency (EMA) promoted and formulated the “Guidelines for
Good Agricultural and Collection Practices for Medicinal Plants” (GACP) in 2004 [
32
].
These regulated the cultivation of CMHs to ensure their safety and reliability, such as
environments, humidity, suitability, air, soil, and water standard regulations, to achieve the
high quality and controllability of the cultivated and collected CMHs [33].
Fertilization is another important measurement for the ecological planting of CMHs.
The unreasonable use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides neglects the output, quality,
safety, environmental pollution, and environmental protection of CMHs. Some industries
have used a great number of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the CMHs to shorten
their growth period as well as increase economic benefits. Scientific fertilization recently
promoted the cultivation of CMHs because it alleviated soil pollution, prevented soil quality
deterioration, and enhanced the rate of CMHs’ growth [34].
Meanwhile, the spatial distribution of the soil organic carbon density (SOCD) was
the main factor for the CMHs’ planting. It was better to maintain the temperature and
humidity of the soil layer. The SOCD gradually decreased when the temperature increased.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 21 of 23
This signaled the need for a soil-testing fertilization formula that would guarantee the
healthy development of the CMHs’ planting [
35
]. Furthermore, the TCM residue acts as a
better fertilizer than manure for improving soil aggregation stability and crop yields. It
enhanced soil aggregation by decreasing Na
+
and K
+
accumulation and increased the soil
organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and NaOH-N content. These were the major
components and nutrients for CMHs growth [36,37].
There is an innovative approach in our Chinese Herbal Garden regarding the planting
of the CMHs. As we already know that TCM residue is a good fertilizer, we would like to
collect the residue from our Chinese Herbal Garden directly through the withered herbs
and the waste after the products’ development according to a specific selection of CMHs
and perform a natural-processing procedure to successfully recycle the CMHs. This would
also improve soil fertility for the CMHs growth because the residue is natural and organic
without any chemical compounds, pesticides, or heavy metals used due to the CMHs’
waste resource utilization (water recycling).
Moreover, the area in Hong Kong is very limited and most of the secondary schools
choose vertical planting to suit the environment. Cultivation must occur at different
heights, and the varieties to be planted must be carefully selected such that they match the
surrounding environment of the planting site.
5. Discussion
What are the advantages of the sustainable development of Chinese Herbal Gardens?
It lowers the impact on the environment from chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and soil pol-
lution during the cultivation of the CMHs. Chinese Herbal Gardens are an organic-farming
method, which relies upon farm-derived renewable resources, such as Chinese medicine
residues, to maintain the biological processes of medicinal plants and the ecological balance
of habitats.
The sustainable development of Chinese Herbal Gardens also provides environmental
protection or conservation of CMHs, as well as a green culture in Hong Kong’s urban city.
It helps to ensure a better life for present and future generations because a Chinese Herbal
Garden is a relaxing place that teaches students and the public about CMHs. This will also
achieve long-term economic growth since we will design and develop our CMHs’ products
so that they can be sold to the market, which balances the costs or even leads to a net gain
from the Chinese herbal gardens.
The most important aspect of sustainable development for Chinese Herbal Gardens
is its continuous funding or financial plan. How do we link the five major areas includ-
ing “Land resources”, “Manpower planning”, “Economy”, “Education or Training”, and
“Ecosystem (cultivation)”?
Our management model also fulfilled the requirements of the United Nations Conven-
tion on Biological Diversity. They mention the implementation of agriculture in line with
sustainable development, and the goals include using water, land, nutrients, and other
natural resources efficiently; managing biodiversity for the sustainable conservation of
biological resources; and reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment so that
other ecological services can be maintained, e.g., by reducing the use of chemicals [38].
Compared with the other studies, our proposed management model in a Chinese
Herbal Garden is only suitable for Hong Kong’s urban city. The management model is
not only focused on the economy—it also accounts for education and training. It solves
the understaffing problem, as we have a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chinese Medicinal
Pharmacy course instituted at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong
Kong (THEi) Tsing Yi campus. The students are required to learn by action, participate in
research work for the development of products, and to try to initiate a business. These are
different from other studies that only relate to the economy and cultivation. Hopefully, this
management model will also help to train talents for the corresponding industries.
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 22 of 23
6. Conclusions
The management model of Chinese Herbal Gardens is still being established, but
there is no doubt that sustainable development must consist of land resources, manpower
planning, economy, education or training, and ecosystem concerns (cultivation). A lack
of funding and over-reliance on organizational support is thought to threaten success.
Thus, it is better to have long-term operation management and maintenance, as well as
financial support for Chinese Herbal Gardens. This management model is expected to
achieve benefits for the cultivation and conservation of CMHs, employee training, and the
promotion of a healthy urban environment.
Author Contributions:
Conceptualization, S.K.L. and D.C.T.A.; methodology, S.K.L. and D.C.T.A.;
software, S.K.L.; validation, S.K.L.; formal analysis, S.K.L.; investigation, S.K.L., D.C.T.A., Y.W. and
W.Y.L.C.; resources, Y.W. and W.Y.L.C.; data curation, S.K.L. and D.C.T.A.; writing—original draft
preparation, S.K.L.; writing review and editing, S.K.L.; visualization, S.K.L.; supervision, S.K.L. and
D.C.T.A.; project administration, Y.W. and D.C.T.A.; funding acquisition, Y.W. and D.C.T.A. All
authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding:
This research was funded by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund, “One School, One
TCM garden” (20B1-2/005A_R1), L’Occitane foundation (Internal project code 9942Y), and a donation
from the Far East Consortium International Limited (RMG030a).
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
1. Lu, J. The Complete Collection of Traditional Texts on Chinese Materia Medica; Huaxia Publishing House: Beijing, China, 1999.
2. Zhao, Z.; Guo, P.; Brand, E. A concise classification of bencao (materia medica). Chin. Med. 2018,13, 18. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3.
Xu, Q.H.; Bauer, R.; Hendry, B.M.; Fan, T.P.; Zhao, Z.Z.; Duez, P.; Simmonds, M.S.J.; Witt, C.M.; Lu, A.P.; Robinson, N.; et al. The
quest for modernisation of traditional Chinese medicine. BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 2013,13, 132. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4.
Law, S.; Leung, A.W.; Xu, C. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19): From causes
to preventions in Hong Kong. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 2020,94, 156–163. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5.
Ang, L.; Lee, H.W.; Kim, A.; Lee, M.S. Herbal medicine for the management of COVID-19 during the medical observation period:
A review of guidelines. Integr. Med. Res. 2020,9, 100465. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6.
Law, S.; Lo, C.; Han, J.; Leung, A.W.; Xu, C. Traditional Chinese herb, Astragalus: Possible for treatment and prevention of
COVID-19? Herba Polonica. 2021,66, 79–84. [CrossRef]
7.
Yuan, H.; Liu, L.; Zhou, J.; Zhang, T.; Daily, J.W.; Park, S. Bioactive Components of Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Their Potential
Mechanisms Against COVID-19 Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approaches. J. Med. Food
2022
,25,
355–366. [CrossRef]
8.
Yu, B.; Lin, F.; Ning, H.; Ling, B. Network pharmacology study on the mechanism of the Chinese medicine Radix Isatidis
(Banlangen) for COVID-19. Medicine 2021,100, e26881. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. Kamboj, V.P. Herbal Medicine. Curr. Sci. 2000,78, 35–39.
10. Ola, K. Role of traditional knowledge in the COVID-19 battle. J. World Intellect. Prop. 2022,25, 279–291. [CrossRef]
11.
Leung, F. The Silent Plight of Illegal Logging in Hong Kong. 2020. Available online: https://earth.org/illegal-logging-hong-kong/
(accessed on 25 September 2022).
12.
Li, H.; Li, Y.; Zhang, X.; Ren, G.; Wang, L.; Li, J.; Wang, M.; Ren, T.; Zhao, Y.; Yang, M.; et al. The Combination of Aquilaria
sinensis (Lour.) Gilg and Aucklandia costus Falc. Volatile Oils Exerts Antidepressant Effects in a CUMS-Induced Rat Model by
Regulating the HPA Axis and Levels of Neurotransmitters. Front. Pharmacol. 2021,11, 614413. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13.
Wang, Z.F.; Cao, H.L. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Aquilaria sinensis. Mitochondrial. DNA B Resour.
2021
,6,
381–383. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14.
Hishamuddin, M.S.; Lee, S.Y.; Ng, W.L.; Ramlee, S.I.; Lamasudin, D.U.; Mohamed, R. Comparison of eight complete chloroplast
genomes of the endangered Aquilaria tree species (Thymelaeaceae) and their phylogenetic relationships. Sci. Rep.
2020
,10, 13034.
[CrossRef] [PubMed]
15.
Sharma, R. Sustainable Development: The Way for Future, Where are we? Indian J. Community Med.
2009
,34, 276–278. [CrossRef]
[PubMed]
Sustainability 2022,14, 15610 23 of 23
16.
Xu, S.; Zhao, Y.; Xin, W.; Zhang, W. Thoughts on Sustainable Development of Chinese Medicine Industry in the “High Concept”
Era. World Sci. Technol. 2011,13, 755–758.
17.
Hinsley, A.; Milner-Gulland, E.J.; Cooney, R.; Timoshyna, A.; Ruan, X.; Lee, T.M. Building sustainability into the Belt and Road
Initiative’s Traditional Chinese Medicine trade. Nat. Sustain. 2020,3, 96–100. [CrossRef]
18.
Alipour, M.; Jafari, H.; Alizadeh, K. The effect of cultivation of medicinal plants on the economic development of rural settlements
Case study: Villages of Kalat city. Propós. Represent 2021,9, e957.
19.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
Agriculture in Hong Kong. 2021. Available online: https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_hk/agr_hk.html (accessed
on 25 September 2022).
20.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Community and Health. 2003. Available online: https://www.
news.gov.hk/isd/ebulletin/tc/category/healthandcommunity/031219/html/031219tc05011.htm (accessed on 25 September
2022).
21.
Cheang, C.C.; Ng, W.K.; Wong, Y.D.; Li, W.C.; Tsoi, K.H. Planting a Seed of Experience—Long Term Effects of a Co-curricular
Ecogarden-Based Program in Higher Education in Hong Kong. Front. Psychol. 2021,11, 583319. [CrossRef]
22.
Gatdula, S.L.; Gayeta, N.E. Garden-based stategy in teaching senior high school life science. Asia Pac. J. Multidiscip. Res.
2019
,7,
6–14.
23.
Lohr, A.M.; Krause, K.C.; McClelland, J.; Van Gorden, N.; Gerald, L.B.; Del Casino, V., Jr.; Wilkinson, A.; Carvajal, S.C. The impact
of school gardens on youth social and emotional learning: A scoping review. J. Adventure Educ. Outdoor Learn.
2021
,21, 371–384.
[CrossRef]
24.
Burns, H.; Miller, W. The Learning Gardens Laboratory: Teaching Sustainability and Developing Sustainable Food Systems
through Unique Partnerships. J. Agric. Food Syst. Community Dev. 2012,2, 69–78. [CrossRef]
25. Law, S.; Au, D.C.; Leung, A.W.; Xu, C. STEM Education in Chinese Herbal Medicine. J. Mod. Educ. Res. 2022,1, 3.
26. Mueller, R.J. Ask the plant: Investigating and teaching plant structure. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 2006,150, 73–78. [CrossRef]
27.
Bennett, B.C. Learning in paradise: The role of botanic gardens in university education. In Innovative Strategies for Teaching in the
Plant Sciences; Quave, C.L., Ed.; Springer Science & Business Media: New York, NY, USA, 2014; pp. 213–229.
28.
Hamilton, S.L. The roles of the university of Tennessee gardens in a public horticulture teaching program. HortTechnology
1999
,9,
552–556. [CrossRef]
29.
Patel, A.; Hill, W.; Wesseling, K.; Mees, K.; Carruthers, R.; Standen, C. The role of an on-campus herb garden in facilitating
teaching and learning for students enroled in a naturopathic and herbal medicine degree. Adv. Integr. Med.
2022
,9, 191–196.
[CrossRef]
30.
Cheang, C.C.; So, W.M.W.; Zhan, Y.; Tsoi, K.H. Education for sustainability using a campus eco-garden as learning environment.
Int. J. Sustain. High. Educ. 2017,18, 242–262. [CrossRef]
31. Labashchi, M.H. Water Crisis and the need to develop the cultivation of medicinal plants. AREEO 2017,3, 10–19.
32.
Zhang, M.; Wang, C.; Zhang, R.; Chen, Y.; Zhang, C.; Heidi, H.; Li, M. Comparison of the guidelines on good agricultural and
collection practices in herbal medicine of the European Union, China, the WHO, and the United States of America. Pharmacol.
Res. 2021,167, 105533. [CrossRef]
33.
Zhang, R.; Zhang, M.; Chen, Y.; Wang, C.C.; Zhang, C.H.; Heuberger, H.; Li, H.T.; Li, M.H. Future development of Good
Agricultural Practice in China under globalization of traditional herbal medicine trade. Chin. Herb. Med.
2021
,13, 472–479.
[CrossRef]
34.
Zhang, Y.Q.; Deng, Q.L.; Wen, Q.S.; Xiao, J.Y.; Yu, Z.H.; Li, S.J.; Liu, Z.W.; Chen, X.F. Brief discussion about role and measures of
scientific fertilization in ecological cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2020,45, 4846–4852.
35.
Li, J.; Zhang, D.; Liu, M. Factors controlling the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon in Daxing’anling Mountain. Sci. Rep.
2020,10, 12659. [CrossRef]
36.
Ma, J.; Chen, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Chen, D.; Wang, H. Effects of traditional Chinese medicine residue on plant growth and soil properties:
A case study with maize (Zea mays L.). Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 2019,26, 32880–32890.
37.
Alexander, G.K.; Grannum, D.R. School Garden Benefits: Health Promotion and Environmental Conservation. NASN Sch. Nurse
2022,37, 79–82. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
38.
United Nations Environmental Protection. Sustainable Agriculture for Biodiversity Preservation and Stable Livelihoods. 2008.
Available online: http://www.cbd.int/ibd/2008/sustainable-agriculture/default.shtml (accessed on 25 September 2022).
Content uploaded by Siu Kan Law
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Siu Kan Law on Nov 24, 2022
Content may be subject to copyright.
