How did Tu Youyou's research combine traditional and modern methods?
My research methodology is fundamentally about bridging ancient wisdom with modern scientific rigor. We began by carefully studying classical texts, such as Ge Hong's 'Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies,' which alluded to treatments for malarial symptoms using plants like Artemisia annua. This historical scholarship guided our experimental focus. Then, we employed systematic laboratory techniques, including solvent extraction and chromatographic separation, to isolate the specific active compound. The key was to verify the efficacy described in traditional knowledge through precise chemical analysis and biological testing. Thus, traditional knowledge served as the hypothesis, and modern science provided the proof.