Qingcao Lane, Xichang Street

It is said that when Monga was first settled, disease was widespread but licensed Chinese medicine doctors were very few, so herb shops became the main source of treatment. People drank herbal decoctions to cure illness, drawing on many old folk remedies, and the street became known as 'Lifesaving Street'. Later, after Longshan Temple stopped issuing medicine lots (prescriptions drawn by lot) and national health insurance was introduced, herbal products shifted towards natural health foods. More than 100 kinds of herbs are sold here, all grown in Taiwan, brought up from the south and dried. Herbal tea is a summer drink for 'reducing internal heat', and many people buy packs to brew at home. Under Taipei City Government plans, Lane 209 of Guangzhou Street, next to the herb lane and Longshan Temple, has been planted with living specimens of medicinal herbs such as aloe, saxifrage and lavender as a medicinal plant garden, which also makes it a place for outdoor lessons.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.