Best Prescriptions and Small Formulas of TCM in the 20th Century

Author: Liu Qin et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: To help readers fully read and understand the content of this book, the series is organized into 14 volumes based on the classification of traditional Chinese medicine clinical disciplines. Each volume is a standalone book, with a preface to the series and an introduction to the volume at the beginning of each volume. During the writing process, emphasis was placed on literature and practicality. The basic principles are followed in each sub-volume, with common, frequently occurring, and difficult-to-treat diseases as the main headings of each chapter, and the selected best prescriptions as the detailed items of each section. Each best prescription is generally described in the following aspects:
1. Prescription composition;
2. The efficacy of this prescription;
3. Diagnostic characteristics;
4. Preparation and usage methods;
5. Scope of application;
6. Modifications and applications;
7. Mechanism of prescription composition;
8. Clinical efficacy;
9. Precautions;
10. Explanation of this prescription;
11. Prescription source.
In this format, "Mechanism of prescription composition" and "Preparation and usage methods" (i.e., "Explanation of this prescription" and "Additional and similar prescriptions") are important features of the series.
The purpose of "Mechanism of prescription composition" is to enable readers to understand and master the properties, meridian tropism, and principles of prescription composition, while the intention of "Preparation and usage methods" is to help readers grasp the essence of the prescription. The purpose of "Explanation of this prescription" is to provide the compilers' insightful comments, allowing readers to grasp the essence of the prescription. However, some prescriptions in the book do not have these sections, as they are based on respecting the academic views of the elderly traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and have not been supplemented with additional explanations.
The best representative prescriptions are selected from publicly published journals, academic reports, and other sources that have been clinically verified, have a significant impact, and are widely used. They adhere to the principle of one syndrome, one prescription, especially traditional prescriptions based on the principle of TCM syndrome differentiation. "Additional prescriptions" are valuable clinical experiences that emphasize the effectiveness of treatment, following the principle of combining modern TCM disease differentiation with syndrome differentiation, with one prescription for one disease as the main basis. "Similar prescriptions" are widely circulated and used prescriptions in folk medicine, with prescription composition not limited to theory, method, and formula, emphasizing clinical efficacy, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. These three types of prescriptions help readers understand the patterns and subtleties of clinical application of this prescription.
At the end of each volume in this series is an index of common disease names, syndrome names, and prescription names, which allows readers to easily find every disease, syndrome, and prescription selected in the series. This greatly facilitates readers' search and use.
The series consists of 14 volumes, covering prescriptions for internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, orthopedics, ophthalmology and otolaryngology, dermatology, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, oncology, small prescriptions, emergencies, urology, acupuncture and moxibustion, and massage, totaling over 20,000 prescriptions and approximately 7 million words. Each volume collects 50 to 100 important diseases, with more than 10 best prescriptions selected for each disease.
The editorial work began in June 1998 and was completed in August 2002, lasting 4 years and 2 months. During the writing process, the compilers received enthusiastic guidance from many renowned experts and scholars across the country and warm care from relevant leaders. Through the unremitting efforts of all members of the editorial committee, this monumental work was successfully completed.
Especially, the famous TCM scholars Liu Duzhou and Dong Jianhua reviewed some of the manuscripts during their illnesses and provided many suggestions for revision. On the occasion of the publication of this book, we extend our heartfelt remembrance to these two elderly figures in the field of TCM.