Pocket Color Illustration of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Author: Hu Bi Chun
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-01-01
Features: Among the commonly used traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), plant-based medicines constitute the majority and are widely used. To facilitate the identification, collection, and application of TCMs for grassroots medical personnel, farmers, and the general public, the compilers of this book referred to over ten books and selected more than 370 commonly used TCMs to create this illustrated and colorful "Pocket Color Atlas of TCM." This book also emphasizes the clinical applications of TCMs, extensively introducing ancient and modern medication experiences as well as practical single and empirical formulas, aiming to provide a practical reference for clinical TCM practice and rural grassroots medicine.
1. The medicinal substances in this book are categorized into 16 major groups based on their functions, with some major groups further divided into subgroups. The classification and order are based on clinical utility.
2. The book features color photographs of the original plant morphology for 300 of the medicinal substances (to save space, animal, mineral, and a few plant medicines are not illustrated). The plant illustrations highlight the medicinal parts, with the botanical name and Latin name provided below each image. For TCMs derived from multiple plant sources, only one plant's illustration is included due to space limitations, corresponding to the text. For different parts of the same plant used medicinally or for different processing methods with varying functions, one illustration is used to indicate the different medicinal parts, allowing readers to consult the text for further details.
3. The text section primarily focuses on functions and selected formulas, with specific headings including: name, source, original plant, collection and processing, nature, flavor, function, dosage and usage, and selected formulas.
1. Name: Common names of TCMs, generally using widely accepted names.
2. Source: Refers to the family name, genus name (Latin name provided for those not illustrated), and medicinal part of the original plant (animal or mineral).
3. Original Plant: Briefly describes the morphology, identification features, especially the characteristics of the medicinal parts, as well as the growth characteristics and distribution regions to aid in identification and collection.
4. Collection and Processing: Specifies the harvest season, briefly introduces the collection and processing methods, and indicates the processed varieties.
5. Nature, Flavor, and Function: Includes the taste, toxicity, efficacy, and applications of the medicine. To facilitate understanding, the book organizes the text by the primary functions of the medicine, detailing the main indications for each function and different patterns for the same disease. It also appropriately introduces modern research findings and new clinical applications. Traditional functions are expressed in TCM terminology, while modern applications are stated in Western medical terms.
6. Dosage and Usage: For decoctions, the dosage refers to the daily adult dose of the dried medicine, with fresh medicine doubled. External applications are generally listed as "appropriate amount" unless specific requirements are noted. Different processed forms are distinguished, with their nature, flavor, and function specified. Additionally, contraindications for specific diseases, pregnancy, or compatibility are mentioned, along with potential toxicity or side effects after use.
7. Selected Formulas: Briefly introduces the specific applications and different combinations of the medicine for various diseases or patterns. It also includes some convenient formulas and modern applications. The formulas highlight the efficacy and application of the main medicine (prescription names are omitted for brevity), allowing for modifications based on clinical conditions.
4. The appendices at the end of the book are divided into three sections:
- "Selected Medicines for Common Diseases": Primarily based on Western medical diagnoses, it integrates ancient and modern medication experiences as well as modern research findings to provide references for clinical prescriptions.
- "Selected Formulas for Common Diseases": Compiled from relevant books, it offers simple and effective formulas for common diseases for readers to use.
- "Name Index": Arranged by stroke order of the medicine names, it helps locate the entries in the index if the name does not appear in the table of contents.