ABSTRACT
Chinese materia medica (CMM) and pieces of Chinese medicine are important composition of National Essential Drugs List, which also embodys the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). National Essential Drugs List is well known for its "safe, necessary, effective, inexpensive", but some chemicals in the list are often short of supply because of their low cost. Usually, Chinese patent medicine composes of more ingredients in prescription, among which there is a complementary price and the price fluctuation is in the normal range. But in recent years, some CMM prices experience massive run-ups followed by precipitous falls, which results in medicine manufacturers stopping production. The effect of short-term rising on feed quality can not be ignored. This article discusses the necessity and feasibility of early warning methods for the essential Chinese medicine supply based on National Census of CMM Resource Survey, and this method is explained and demonstrated with Compound Danshen Tablets as example.