"Green shield" in people's health care

Over the years, the system of 12 medical stations and 2 regional polyclinics under the Tran Yen Regional Medical Center has promoted the strengths of modern medicine combined with traditional medicine in people's health care. In particular, medicinal herb gardens have been built, managed and put into regular treatment, contributing to the preservation and promotion of local traditional medicinal resources.

After being examined and diagnosed with acute pharyngitis by a doctor, Ms. Hoang Thi Vien in Ban Ben village, Viet Hong commune was prescribed medicine. At the same time, she was also introduced to several types of traditional Vietnamese medicinal plants to help reduce coughs such as burn leaves, fan palm, ginger, etc. Each plant sample was instructed by medical staff, explaining how to use, dosage and specific uses.

Mrs. Vien shared: "I trust Western medicine when needed, but adding herbs like fan palm, burn leaves or ginger is more reassuring, and they are readily available in the garden. The doctors at the station gave on-site instructions, so it was very easy to do."

Right in the premises of Viet Hong Medical Station, Viet Hong commune, there is a green medicinal herb garden of about 70 square meters, gathering nearly 40 familiar plants such as: licorice, purslane, gotu kola, plantain, tricolor apricot, mugwort, thorny plants, venom-sucking plants...

General practitioner Nguyen Van Thinh - Deputy Head of the Viet Hong Medical Station, Viet Hong Commune said: Every month, the station examines and treats about 250 - 300 patients, of which about 30% of cases are treated with both modern and traditional medicine. We prioritize available and easy-to-grow medicinal herbs. The medicinal herb garden is both a place to introduce and a "laboratory" for people to learn how to recognize and use them correctly.

Not only Viet Hong Medical Station, Viet Hong Commune, but also 11 other medical stations and 2 regional clinics of Tran Yen Regional Medical Center all own rich medicinal herb gardens. Each place has different areas and species but all follow the principle of "close to people, easy to grow, easy to use". Many stations also have nameplates, clearly stating the uses of each plant for people to visit and learn.

Medicinal herbs at Bao Dap Medical Station, Tran Yen Commune have nameplates with clear uses for people to visit and learn.

In order for the medicinal garden to promote its value, the medical staff is also periodically trained, updated with knowledge, ensuring the safe and scientific use of medicinal herbs. Notably, the stations regularly coordinate with the Women's Union, Youth Union, and schools to organize training sessions on how to distinguish medicinal herbs, planting techniques, preservation, and preliminary processing, helping traditional knowledge become closer and easier to apply in families. Thanks to that, people gradually form the habit of combining Western medicine as prescribed when necessary and taking advantage of herbs to support recovery and prevent disease.

Following these activities, health stations also promoted and promoted the planting and care of medicinal plants right at home, considering this a part of the work of protecting and taking care of community health. Through village meetings, health workers combined propaganda and guidance on how to identify medicinal herbs, prepare and preserve them, helping people confidently use them when necessary. Thanks to that, native plants such as orchids, polygonum multiflorum, ginseng, etc. became available "green medicine cabinets", contributing to preserving precious medicinal resources.

In the first 9 months of 2025, the system of 12 medical stations and 2 regional clinics under the Tran Yen Regional Medical Center received over 10,000 patients. The rate of applying traditional medicine combined with modern medicine is increasing, especially in the group of chronic diseases and rehabilitation.

Specialist II Doctor Vu Thi Chau Loan commented: "The herbal medicine garden is part of a sustainable primary health care strategy. We consider it a bridge between tradition and modernity, helping to reduce the load on upper-level hospitals while preserving valuable indigenous knowledge."

In fact, the harmonious combination of modern and traditional medicine has contributed significantly to improving treatment effectiveness and raising awareness of self-health care in the community. Medicinal gardens and the habit of growing and using medicinal herbs in each family are gradually becoming a cultural feature of health care. This is a sustainable direction for grassroots health care to continue to improve service quality, bringing practical benefits to community health today and for many generations to come.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/la-chan-xanh-trong-cham-soc-suc-khoe-nhan-dan-post883533.html