To become a good Chinese medicine practitioner, knowledge of Chinese medicine is definitely essential, and the memory and application of prescriptions is also a headache for many people. There are many prescriptions, so you can’t remember them! In fact, it is essential to master the basic knowledge of prescriptions in order to be comfortable with the use of medicine in the clinic! A. The prescription of a variety of drugs is called a prescription. The composition of a prescription has a certain law, called the formula system. Therefore, a prescription is a further development of treatment with a single drug. It is characterized by a comprehensive effect, a wide therapeutic range, and the ability to reconcile the toxicity of drugs and reduce or avoid adverse reactions. The composition of a formula is divided into four items: ruler, subject, adjuvant and ambassador. General prescriptions with more than four kinds of drugs, are in accordance with these four dispensing, even if less than four kinds of drugs or as many as dozens of drugs, can not deviate from this rule. No don’t roam undisciplined, the direction is unclear, the former used to have drugs without prescription. 1, Jun: Jun is a party of the main drug, for the main cause of a disease, the main symptoms can play a major role in the drug, that is, “Nei Jing” said: the main disease is called Jun. The drug is not necessarily a party only one, and not necessarily violent drugs to be the drug, mainly depends on the specific circumstances and needs to decide. Li Dongyuan once said: if the treatment of wind, then the use of wind as the ruler; to treat cold, then the use of the epiphyllum as the ruler; to treat dampness, then the use of anti-heat as the ruler; to clear the upper jiao, then the use of Huang Lian as the ruler; to clear the middle jiao, then the use of baicalin as the ruler. And so on, even the more sexually weak drugs, such as mulberry leaves, chrysanthemum, Chen Pi, bamboo rhizome, etc., are qualified as the ruler of the medicine. 2, minister: “Nei Jing” says: “The name of the minister is to support the ruler. The minister is the drug that assists and strengthens the effect of the ruler’s medicine, such as Gui Zhi in Ephedra Tang, which helps Ephedra to sweat out the symptoms, so it is the minister in Ephedra Tang. In a prescription, there is no limit to only one medicine, a monarch can have several minister; if there are two monarchs in a party, it can also use more minister to match. 3, adjuvant: under the minister is called adjuvant, adjuvant is a kind of medicine close to the minister’s medicine. In addition to assisting the role of the ruler’s medicine as well as the minister’s medicine, it can also assist the ruler’s medicine to relieve certain secondary symptoms. For example, ephedra soup with almond as adjuvant, its role is to promote the lung, cough, help the monarch drug to relieve the secondary symptoms of ephedra soup evidence. On the other hand, if the ruling drug is toxic or too biased, can also use adjuvant to reconcile. 4, make: from the meaning of the word “make”, make medicine is the most minor drugs in a party. The “Nei Jing” says: “The subject should be the subject of the make. It can be seen that the medicine is a kind of auxiliary medicine of the subject medicine. In the clinical evidence, it is generally understood that the making medicine is the inducing medicine, which means to lead the medicinal power to the place of disease, so it is also called the inducing medicine, commonly called the medicine inducer. Although the words jun, minister, zuo, and make contain a feudal meaning, they are essentially used to represent the main and assisting drugs to illustrate the organization of the prescription. For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has accumulated a wealth of experience in the coordination of prescriptions, and this principle has been observed in the formulation of both classic and seasonal prescriptions. In passing, I would like to discuss the issue of “Classic” and “Seasonal” prescriptions. The development of Chinese medicine from the use of single herbs to prescriptions was a long time ago. In the Nei Jing, there is the formula of Blood withering composed of squid bone, Rubia and bird’s egg, the formula of insomnia composed of Panicum and Panicum, and the formula of wine and wind composed of Atractylodes, Atractylodes and Elm. By the time Zhang Zhongjing compiled the Treatise on Typhoid Fever and the Essentials of Jin Kui, the prescriptions were more complete. Later generations valued his works as classics and called his prescriptions Jingfang, and later prescriptions were called Shiqifang. We believe that the therapeutic efficacy of the classical prescriptions is affirmed, but the value of the seasonal prescriptions is also undeniable. The formation of the prescriptions of the time is also one of the examples of the continuous development of Chinese medicine academic. For the same reason, the six meridians method of identification mentioned above was based on the Treatise on Typhoid and the Sanjiao method of identification was based on the Wenzhi Zhuandian, one in the Han Dynasty and the other in the Qing Dynasty, not only did they not contradict each other, but also complemented each other. The formulas in the “Article of Wenzhi” were based on the “Treatise on Typhoid and Cold” and had a lot of play and supplementation. Therefore, under the goal of using the ancient for the present, we should pay attention to the classic prescriptions, as well as the current prescriptions, and also to the modern effective prescriptions. The seven prescriptions are divided into seven categories, i.e. generous, small, slow, urgent, strange, even and compound. 1, generous: the disease is strong and cannot be restrained by strong force, so generous formula must be used, such as the following method of the Great Cheng Qi Tang. When using generous, should first consider whether the righteousness can be competent, because the big down can hurt yin, sweating can make the death of yang, although the evil goes and the righteousness is injured, which will lose the meaning of generous. 2, small formula: small formula and generous is the opposite. If the evil is light and shallow, just use a lighter formula or reduce its system according to the generous formula, this is called a small formula, such as the small Cheng Qi Tang in the following method. 3, slow formula: general chronic, weak disease, can not be eager to seek the effect, it is appropriate to use the power of the medicine and gentle formula to long-term recuperation, such as the tonic method of the four gentlemen soup, that is, slow formula class. 4, urgent formula: urgent formula and slow formula are opposite. It is used for first aid when the disease is critical, for example, diarrhea more than, hands and feet rebellious cold, the pulse is weak to extinguish, with four reverse soup back to Yang. In acute cases, not only should the power of the medicine be specialized, but also the amount of medicine should be heavy, so it is often combined with generous application. 5, odd formula: odd is the singular, odd formula that is the meaning of specialization. If the cause of the disease is only one, use one kind of Jun medicine to treat the main disease, in order to make the power of the medicine exclusive, so it is called Qi Fang. But the odd formula is not equal to a single medicine, there are also ministerial medicine, adjuvant medicine, etc. with. 6, even formula: even is an even number, containing the meaning of both sides. If there are two causes at the same time and two kinds of Jun medicines are needed to treat them, it is called even formula. Clinical evidence on the sweat and down, or attack and supplementation, all belong to the even formula category. 7, compound prescription: compound is the meaning of complex, repeat. Where the cause of the disease is more or the condition is more complex, it is necessary to use compound treatment. For example, Wujisan is composed of ephedra soup, Gui Zhi Tang, Ping Gastric San and Er Chen Tang, etc. It is used to remove wind, cold, phlegm and dampness as well as to eliminate lumpiness and remove accumulation. The other one means that if this method does not work, Ran uses other methods, and if other methods do not work, another method is used, as stated in Nei Jing: if the odd one does not go, then the even one, and if the even one does not go, then the opposite one is used to remove it. Therefore, in some cases, compound prescriptions are also called re-flow prescriptions, which are different from the general compound prescriptions as opposed to the single medicine. The seven formulae are one of the rules for the composition of prescriptions. In addition to this, there are also those that are divided by therapeutic effects. For example, Zhang Jinyue has divided the prescriptions into “eight formations”, i.e., tonic formation, harmonizing formation, attacking formation, dispersing formation, cold formation, heat formation, solid formation, and cause formation. The prescriptions of the tonic array are used for deficiency of vital energy and weakness; the prescriptions of the healing array are used to reconcile the bias of the evil; the prescriptions of the attack array are used for internal solid evidence; the prescriptions of the dispersal array are used for external evidence; the prescriptions of the cold array are used for heat evidence; the prescriptions of the heat array are used for cold evidence; the prescriptions of the solid array are used for incontinence of slippage; and the prescriptions of the cause array are all cubed according to the symptoms. At present, the classification of general prescriptions is mostly divided into twenty-two categories according to Wang Ang’s “Collection of medical prescriptions”: 1, tonic agents: nourishing the body’s yin and Yang Qi and blood deficiency, eliminating all debilitating diseases, such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Si Jun Zi Tang, etc. 2.Publishing agents: dispersing external evil and relieving superficial evidence, such as Ma Huang Tang, Gui Zhi Tang, etc. 3.Chong vomiting agents: induce the evil to cross over and make it vomit, such as Guati San and Ginseng Lushan. 4, attacking the inner agent: to pass the stool and guide the stagnation, to remove the actual evil in the intestines and stomach, such as Da Cheng Qi Tang, Da Shen Che Tang, etc. 5.Epithelial agents: both evacuate the surface evil and remove the internal evil, the method of dual solution of surface and internal, such as Da Chai Hu Tang, Gui Zhi Da Huang Tang, etc. 6.Relief agents: using reconciliation methods to achieve the purpose of removing the evil, such as Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Yi Yao San, etc. 7.Qi regulating agents: to regulate the qi mechanism, to relieve depression and subdue rebellion, such as Si Qi Tang and Xuan Yi Dai Ou Tang. 8.Blood regulating agents: harmonizing blood and eliminating blood stasis, nourishing the camp and stopping bleeding, such as Si Wu Tang and Gum Ae Tang. 9.Wind dispersing agents: dispersing wind through Yang, nourishing Yin and relieving wind, such as Xiao Xuan Wei Tang, Di Huang Drinking Zi, etc. 10, dispel cold agents: help Yang to warm the middle, dispel and expel internal cold, such as Zhen Wu Tang, Four Reverse Soup, etc. 11.Summer clearing agents: Clearing away the heat, such as Elsholtzholtzholtzholtzholtzholtz drink, Liuyi San, etc. 12.Dampness relief agents: excrete water-dampness, such as Wu Ling San, Wu Pi Drink, etc. 13, moistening agents: nourish the blood and fluid dryness, such as Qiong Yu cream, thirsty formula, etc. 14, diarrhea agents: clear heat and detoxify, such as Bai Hu Tang, Huang Lian Detoxification Tang, etc. 15.Phlegm remover: resolve phlegm and cleanse phlegm, such as Er Chen Tang, Pores and Pores Rolling Phlegm Pill, etc. 16, eliminative agents: eliminating stagnation and moving Qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, such as Hovenia Pill, Baohe Pill, etc. 17, astringent: astringent essence, fixing astringency and slippage, such as Real Man Raising Dirty Tang, Golden Lock Solid Essence Pill, etc. 18.Worm-killing agent: to expel intestinal parasites, such as Jixingwan, Huayuwan, etc. 19.Eye brightening agent: specializing in the treatment of eye diseases, such as sheep liver pill, plucking clouds and retreating shades pill. 20.Cancers and ulcers：Specialized in the treatment of surgical swelling and ulcers, such as Real Live Life Drink, Dispersing Swelling and Ulcer Soup, etc. 21.Menstrual and delivery agents: specializing in the treatment of gynecological menstruation and prenatal and postnatal diseases, such as Liuhe Tang, Dasheng Drink, etc. 22, emergency remedies: including first aid for freezing death, drowning and poisonous insect bites, etc. It is generally difficult to classify the prescriptions in TCM, because a prescription often contains a variety of effectiveness, so it cannot be fixed in one category, even if several prescriptions have the same therapeutic purpose, but there are great differences in their use. For example, tonic agents can be used not only for weaknesses but also for other symptoms; moreover, tonic agents are not suitable for any weaknesses. In addition, the addition or subtraction of drugs in the formula, the amount of dosage, can make its nature and role change. For example, ephedra soup with ephedra, cinnamon, almonds, licorice, for sweating and relieving symptoms; if the cinnamon is replaced by gypsum, it will be hemp apricot, stone and sweet soup, treating lung heat and asthma; or the removal of cinnamon, it will be three argon soup, treating cold and flu, nasal congestion and cough. For example, Xiao Cheng Qi Tang and Hou Pu San Wu Tang are also composed of Da Huang, Citrus aurantium and Hou Pu, but Xiao Cheng Qi Tang has Da Huang as the ruler and Hou Pu as the adjuvant, and the dosage of Hou Pu is halved compared to Da Huang; Hou Pu San Wu Tang has Hou Pu as the ruler and Da Huang as the adjuvant, and the dosage of Hou Pu is doubled compared to Da Huang. In this way, Xiao Cheng Qi Tang is used to relieve heat and pass stools, while Hou Pu San Wu Tang is a formula for moving Qi and removing fullness. This shows that the classification according to the therapeutic effect refers to its main effect, which must be considered when applying. There are several types of prescriptions, each with different properties and different effects, such as pills, pans, creams, pans, wines, soups, etc. 1.Pill: pill is commonly known as pill medicine, or medicine pill. After the drug is ground into a fine powder, add cold water or honey, or rice paste, batter and other adhesives made of round body. According to the therapeutic requirements, the size and weight of the pill is not consistent, there are small as mustard seeds, there are large as a bullet, but also as large as mung beans or wutongzi. About large pills weigh one, two or three dollars per pill, small pills weigh two hundred to four hundred pills, small pills weigh two hundred to fifteen hundred pills, and very small pills weigh two thousand to ten thousand pills. Pills into the stomach, the absorption is slower, mostly for chronic diseases must be long-term food, so the former said “pill, slow also”, is this meaning. Also, the disease in the lower jiao also use pills, take its slow absorption, to reach the intestines before the effect; there are also urgent, serious illnesses using pills, because it can be made in advance, to take its convenience. 2, bulk: that is, powder, the drug into a fine powder. There are sub-research, joint research, successive research and other procedures. Generally used to research, but with viscous drugs such as frankincense, myrrh, blood, child tea, or volatile strong drugs such as musk, ice chips, camphor, or more valuable drugs such as rhinoceros horn, antelope horn, pearl, bear bile, toadstool, etc., are used to research. Successive research is because the prescription contains a small amount of valuable drugs, or other drugs must be divided into research, the law will need to research the drugs divided into research, set a kind of milk bowl, and then add an equal amount of other drug powder, research and then add an equal amount of other drug powder with the research, successive times the amount, increasing until all mixed evenly. Dispersant is used for internal use, the drug is faster than the pill; also used for the nose, or for external application. 3.Ointment: Decoction of the drug with water, concentrated into a thick semi-solid, pick the right amount, with boiling water. General method: the drug is dipped in water overnight, decocted twice to four times, the juice is taken and filtered, combined and boiled again, to the extent that the paper does not seep. In addition, there are vegetable oil boiled, then for external paste with ointment. Ointment is mostly nourishing and tonic, used for chronic weakness evidence, winter taking ointment medicine also belongs to this category. 4, Dan agent: Dan is made by sublimation or fusion, mainly for mineral drugs. It is also made of a mixture of general drugs, and it takes the meaning of “red heart without falsehood that Dan”. Dan is available in different dosage forms, such as pills, pans and ingots. The method of use is the same as that of pills and dispersants. 5, wine: for the drug with white wine as a solvent leaching derived from the leaching solution, so commonly called medicinal wine. Preparation method is divided into two kinds of cold dip and hot dip.