Soup base rhyme

Author: Yu Shiran, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: "Tangtou" is a colloquial term for traditional Chinese medicine decoctions. In traditional Chinese medicine formulas, a single decoction often consists of multiple herbs, with complex preparation methods and abstract, tedious herb names, making them difficult to memorize and master. Therefore, ancient scholars attempted to transform some traditional effective herbal formulas into poetry, giving them the characteristics of rhyme and rhythm, making them easy to recite. This approach facilitated memorization and was well-received by medical practitioners. In the 33rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, an 80-year-old practicing physician named Wang Ang compiled a book titled "Tangtou Gedjie" by integrating ancient formulas, which had a significant impact. This book selects 320 famous formulas, categorized into 20 groups, and arranges them into seven-character quatrains in the form of rhyming couplets. Each decoction's name, ingredients, indications, and modifications based on symptoms are included in the verses. The content is concise and to the point, with elegant rhymes, and it quickly became a celebrated topic in the medical community. To promote and preserve the classics of traditional Chinese medicine and better serve the people, we have meticulously translated and compiled the modern version of "Tangtou Gedjie." We have provided colloquial explanations for some obscure and unfamiliar ancient verses and, to some extent, scientifically verified and converted the dosages of herbs in the ancient version of "Tangtou Gedjie." This presents the book to the world in a completely new, scientific, and practical pharmaceutical form.