Overview
ISO/TS 21831:2020 - Information model of Chinese materia medica processing is a Technical Specification published by ISO (first edition, 2020) that defines an information model for the processing of Chinese materia medica (CMM) into decoction pieces. Prepared by ISO/TC 215 (Health informatics), the document establishes domain constraints, characterizing categories and semantic links to represent the concepts and relationships needed to describe processing methods, parameters and outcomes used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This specification is explicitly not applicable to Japanese Kampo medicine.
Key topics and requirements
- Information model definition: graphical and textual representations of entities and relationships (data model / conceptual model) for CMM processing.
- Domain constraints: set of sanctioned characteristics composed of a relationship plus an applicable information model.
- Characterizing categories: standardized terms and definitions covering CMM concepts such as decoction piece, processing, adjuvant material, moisture content, ash content, nature (four properties/five flavours), preparation methods (steaming, frying, calcining, blanching, cutting, etc.).
- Semantic links and categorial structure: explicit relationships (examples include “is processed by”, “change”) that connect entities in a concept diagram (see Figure 1 in the specification).
- Parameters and metrics: conceptual coverage of measurable factors relevant to processing (temperature, duration, proportion of adjuvant material), leaching/decocting rates, purity and texture indicators.
- Scope and exclusions: applies to the making of decoction pieces; normative references are none and Kampo medicine is excluded.
Practical applications and users
Who benefits:
- Health informatics professionals building interoperable data models and clinical information systems for TCM.
- TCM manufacturers and quality control teams standardizing manufacturing records, processing parameters and traceability of decoction pieces.
- Clinical researchers and systematic reviewers who need consistent process descriptions to interpret heterogeneity across trials and improve meta-analysis quality.
- Regulators and standards bodies seeking standard terminology and representation to assess processing quality and consumer safety.
- Data integrators and software developers implementing electronic records, LIMS or ontology-aligned databases for herbal medicine supply chains.
Practical value:
- Improves consistency of process reporting for CMM.
- Enables semantic interoperability and clearer comparison of processing effects on quality, toxicity and effectiveness.
- Supports data synthesis, traceability and compliance in TCM production and research.
Related standards
This TS uses and aligns terminology with other ISO/IEC resources cited in the text, for example:
Keywords: ISO/TS 21831:2020, Chinese materia medica, information model, decoction pieces, TCM processing, semantic links, health informatics.