Wang Qi's Ten Lectures on Clinical Applications of Medicinal Formulas

Author: Gai Haishan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features:
1. Explanation of Classical Formulas
(1) Definition of Classical Formulas
The term "Classical Formula" (Jingfang) has two meanings: empirical formulas and canonical formulas. One refers to empirical formulas. According to research, the term "Classical Formula" first appeared in the Seven Summaries·Treatise on Medical Techniques by Liu Xiang and Liu Xin of the Western Han Dynasty. Later, in the Book of Han·Treatise on the Arts and Literature by Ban Gu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a mention of "Eleven Schools of Classical Formulas," which primarily involved categorizing the collected empirical formulas based on the diseases they treated, such as formulas for (arthritis), (hernia), (dysentery), (wind-cold-heat disease), (injury-related formulas), and formulas for women and infants. All of these belonged to empirical formulas. By the Tang Dynasty, the term "Classical Formula" still retained the meaning of empirical formulas. Sun Simiao's Essential Prescriptions for Emergencies and Supplementary Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet were compilations of empirical formulas from the Tang Dynasty. Sun Simiao said, "Anyone who wishes to become a great physician must thoroughly study the Suwen and the Jia Yi."