Medicinal herb resources abundant in DPRK (2)

September 18, 2025

More than 460 kinds of medicinal plants are distributed in South Hamgyong Province.

In Koryo medicine, forest asiabell, which grows well in the Pujon and Tanchon areas, is used as a tonic for the stomach and as cures for xerostomia, loss of appetite and flatulence and its decoction is used as blood-making, invigorating material for anaemia and physical weakness after illness.

Forest asiabell is widely used in the dietary life as well. In May and June, its young leaves and stems are picked to be used as edible herbs, and in autumn, its roots are dug up, peeled and chopped before being roasted.

Deep mountains of the northern region are rich in rare herbs like Rhodiola elongata which is called stone flower in Korean.

The herb is called thus as it grows on rock and looks like a flower and it is widely used in the treatment of lumbago, digestive diseases, etc.

More than 550 kinds of medicinal plants are distributed in North Phyongan Province.

Atractylodes, whose root is used as a medicinal material, is widely used for gastritis and splenic diseases because it is rich in components helpful to sedation, promotion of gastric secretion and digestive absorption. Especially, the regular intake of the root of atractylodes can prevent various diseases.

Schizandra chinensis, whose fruit and seeds are used as medicinal materials, is very good for the treatment of cough and expectorant action. Artemisia messerschmidtiana and motherwort, whose leaves and stems are used as medicinal materials, are used a lot for the protection of liver functions and for gynecopathy.

The medicinal plants, whose flowers are used as medicinal materials, include honeysuckle along with Convalaria keiskei.

Honeysuckle, which is also called kumunhwa (gold and silver flower) as its petals are white at first and turn yellow two or three days later, is highly effective in treating inflammation and checking gastric ulcer and is used for the prevention of cancerous diseases.

More than 620 kinds of medicinal plants are distributed in South Phyongan Province in the central part of the country.

Taehung, Nyongwon, Maengsan, Pukchang and other counties are rich in such medicinal herbs as Angelica sinensis, Cnidium officinale and Prunella asiatica.

Many regions and units have recently directed efforts to the creation of medicinal herb resources in order to increase productivity and economic effectiveness.

According to Jon Ryong Il, a staffer of the Koryo medicine production management bureau under the Ministry of Public Health, herb mountains are being created in a methodological way in Pyongyang, Nampho and many other parts of the country.

The Sinyang County Disabled Soldiers' Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory, which was selected as one of the top 10 businesses of the country for 2023, is a small unit. But it created a herb mountain by itself to produce and supply necessary herbal products, thus making an active contribution to the promotion of the people’s health.

THE PYONGYANG TIMES

2025 © All rights reserved. www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp