Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals announced on Monday that the shipment of the first batch of Zhengqi Tablets exported to Canada is scheduled to depart on Aug 23, marking the latest step in the global expansion of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

A ceremony was held at the company's research and production base in Shanghai on Friday to mark the departure of the first batch.

Zhengqi Tablets, an exclusive product of Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals, was manufactured using an ancient formula from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and refined to enhance its properties of dispelling dampness and harmonizing the stomach and spleen. Recognized as a classic compound preparation for treating gastrointestinal colds, Zhengqi Tablets have been included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia since 2015.

Within the concept of TCM, gastrointestinal colds are believed to result from disruptions caused by cold and dampness, leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction. Modern medicine often attributes such symptoms to acute viral gastroenteritis caused by various pathogens.

Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals has collaborated with the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to modernize the research on Zhengqi Tablets in recent years. The research results identified the optimal harvesting periods and processing techniques for the herbs, as well as 169 active components. Additionally, they enhanced quality standards by developing multi-component quantitative analysis methods.

Henergy, the product's Canadian brand name, combines "health" and "energy", reflecting the TCM concept of "Zhengqi" and conveying the essence of Eastern culture, according to the company.