TCM Prescription Guide

Author: Chief Editor: Zhu Yuxiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-12-01
Features: Preface to the Reprint The author's book "Guide to TCM Prescriptions" has been published since 1988 and has gone through eight printings, totaling over 200,000 copies. Thanks to the concern and support of the readers, many revision suggestions have been proposed. Here, the author expresses gratitude and takes this opportunity to supplement and revise the book to better meet readers' needs. The revised edition includes a preface explaining the principles of formula composition and changes in formula composition, making it easier for readers to formulate their own prescriptions. Brief textual explanations have been added before each section and category of formulas, summarizing definitions, indications, and precautions to give readers a general understanding of the content and formulas. 150 commonly used formulas (including main formulas, supplementary formulas, and patent medicines) have been newly added. The second part of the original edition has been moved to the end, making the content related to prescriptions more closely connected. After the end, a formula index has been appended, listing the names of main formulas, supplementary formulas, category formulas, and patent medicine formulas. Through these supplements and revisions, readers have been greatly facilitated. However, due to the author's limited ability, there may still be errors and shortcomings, and the author sincerely invites readers to point them out.
Author's Content Summary This book mainly describes practical knowledge related to TCM prescriptions. It includes five parts: commonly used formulas, modifying medications according to symptoms, common medication pairs, common substitute medications for unavailable drugs, and commonly used patent medicines, totaling over 850 Chinese medicine formulas and patent medicines, each accompanied by brief textual explanations. The content of the book's prescriptions is comprehensive, concise, practical, and easy to understand, making it a reference for TCM practitioners and also serving as supplementary teaching material for learning TCM.
Excerpt: Preface Formulas are the embodiment of treatment methods and an important link in the process of "treat according to syndrome, formulate according to principle, and use according to efficacy." They are selected based on the needs of the condition, on the foundation of syndrome differentiation and treatment method establishment, according to the principles of formula composition, choosing appropriate drugs, determining appropriate dosages, and selecting appropriate dosage forms. They are one of the important methods for implementing treatment. Treatment methods refer to the methods of treatment. They are determined based on the condition obtained through the four diagnostic methods, through syndrome differentiation to identify the cause, and through analyzing the cause to determine the treatment. Clinically, this is used to select and formulate formulas, so the relationship between formulas and treatment methods is inseparable. The predecessors summarized the relationship between the two as "formulas are established according to methods, and methods govern formulas." Formulas are selected according to treatment methods, but treatment methods can only be reflected through formulas. Therefore, it is essential to determine the treatment method before selecting or formulating formulas, otherwise, the prescription (formula) will not be effective.
The composition of a formula is neither a simple pile of drugs nor the mere addition of pharmacological effects. It follows certain principles, known as the principles of formula composition. It divides the role of drugs in treatment into four parts: chief (main), deputy (auxiliary), assistant, and envoy. The meanings of chief, deputy, assistant, and envoy drugs are as follows:
Chief drug: The drug that plays the main role in treating the cause of the disease or the primary symptom, and is an indispensable leading drug in the composition of the formula. Some formulas are named after the chief (main) drug, such as Mahuang Decoction and Guizhi Decoction.
Deputy drug: It has two meanings. One is to assist the chief drug, enhance its efficacy, and better treat the cause of the disease or the primary symptom. The other is the drug that primarily treats secondary diseases or symptoms.
Assistant drug: It has three meanings. One is to assist the chief and deputy drugs to enhance the therapeutic effect or directly treat secondary symptoms. The second is to assist in reducing or mitigating the toxicity of the chief and deputy drugs or to moderate their intensity. The third is to counteract the chief drug, which is used when the disease is severe and the pathogen is strong, possibly rejecting medication, and is paired with a drug that has a property and flavor opposite to the chief drug but can complement the treatment.
Envoy drug: It has two meanings. One is an guiding drug, which guides the other drugs in the formula to reach the affected area. The other is a harmonizing drug, which has the effect of harmonizing the drugs in the formula.
From the above meanings of chief, deputy, assistant, and envoy drugs, it can be seen that the chief drug is indispensable in a formula, while deputy, assistant, and envoy drugs may not necessarily be present in every formula, or may be missing one or two. In some formulas, the chief and deputy drugs may also have the function of assistant and envoy drugs. The number of flavors of chief, deputy, assistant, and envoy drugs is not strictly regulated. In general, a formula has only one chief drug, while more complex formulas may have two to three. Deputy and assistant drugs usually have three to five flavors. Envoy drugs are generally one flavor, but may also have two.
Additionally, chief and deputy drugs can be variable. They are determined by the syndrome they treat, and according to the changes in the syndrome, the chief and deputy drugs should also be adjusted accordingly, but this is relatively rare.
The composition of a formula has both strict principles and a certain flexibility. When applying established formulas clinically, one should be flexible based on changes in the condition, the patient's constitution and age, the seasons and climate, regional differences, etc. Only by unifying the principles and flexibility in practical application can satisfactory therapeutic effects be achieved. This is what the predecessors said: "Learn the method without rigidly adhering to the formula, and learn the formula without rigidly adhering to the drug."
Common changes in composition include the following three types: 1. Changes in the addition and subtraction of flavors: This refers to the formula, with the chief drug unchanged, changing the compatibility of deputy, assistant, and envoy drugs according to changes in the condition. This change can be further divided into two types: (1) Adjusting according to symptoms. That is, with the chief drug and primary symptoms unchanged, adding or subtracting minor flavoring drugs in the formula to adapt to the needs of the condition.