目的：了解世界传统医药专利的分布，加强中医药的知识产权保护。方法：以ISTIC原美国专利分析数据库的授权专利为数据源，利用专利计量方法，研究全球传统医药的授权专利情况。结果：共检索到授权专利5335 件。1976~1990 年为专利授权的萌芽阶段，1991~1996 年为缓慢增长阶段,1997 年开始进入快速增长阶段，并在2002 年达到峰值446 件后呈现下降趋势。美国、日本、法国、印度和德国获得了较多专利授权，中国排名第10 位。印度的科学与工业研究理事会是获得最多专利授权的机构。美国的传统医药专利发明人最多，而中国香港的Cheung，Ling Yuk 发明的专利数居世界第5 位。传统医药相关专利具体涉及含有植物材料的生物杀灭剂、害虫驱避剂或引诱剂、植物生长调节剂，以及作为活性组分的未明成分植物材料或植物提取物。结论：中国有悠久的传统医药历史，并有系统的中医药现代教育、临床和科研体系，但其知识产权保护的意识和途径亟待加强。

This article aimed to analyze the distribution of patents of international traditional medicine (TM) in order to enhance the intellectual property protection of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Issued patents of the ISTICUSPAD were used as data source in the analysis of international TM patents with patentometrics. The searching result was that there are 5335 issued patents. The germination phase of issued patents is from 1976 to 1990. And the development phase is from 1991 to 1996 for TM patents. The maturation phase started from 1997. And the issued patent amount reached its peak number of 466 in 2002. The acquired patent amount in the U.S., Japan, France, India and Germany is more than the amount in other countries or areas. China ranked as the 10th position. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was the institute with the most issued patents. The U.S. was reviewed as the one with the most TM patent inventors. Cheung Ling Yuk from Hong Kong ranked the 5th position among all inventors in the world. TM patents include areas, such as biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, and plant material or plant extract of undetermined constitution as active ingredients. It is concluded that TM has a long history in China with systematic development on education, clinical practice and research. However, the awareness and methods of TCM intellectual property protection should be further improved.