Types of Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations
"There are many classifications of traditional Chinese medicine."
Commonly used Chinese medicines can be categorized by their effects into several main types, including diaphoretics, heat-clearing herbs, purgatives, wind-dampness-dispelling herbs, dampness-resolving herbs, diuretic and dampness-eliminating herbs, warming herbs, qi-regulating herbs, digestive herbs, hemostatic herbs, blood-activating and stasis-removing herbs, phlegm-resolving, cough-suppressing, and asthma-relieving herbs, sedatives, liver-calming and wind-extinguishing herbs, tonifying herbs, and astringent herbs. Each category of herbs shares common efficacy characteristics...
Su Ziyang did not list all the types of Chinese medicine, but only gave a general introduction to the relevant content.
At this point in Su Ziyang's speech, someone in the audience asked another question.
"Teacher Su, you've talked so much about traditional Chinese medicine, what about decoctions? We'd like to hear about decoctions!"
Su Ziyang looked at the person who asked the question with a smile, and immediately countered with a question, "Then let me ask you, do you know what types of traditional Chinese medicine are made?"
The man was speechless for a moment, then after pondering for a while, he stammered, "It's just medicine, isn't it? Just liquid medicine!"
At that moment, a middle-aged man in the last row shouted, "I know! It's Liuwei Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), used to treat kidney deficiency. I eat it often, a friend of mine does it all the time!"
Classic, I have a friend.
Everyone burst into laughter.
"I also know about powders, like Ginseng Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder!"
"Dan should count too, right?"
Everyone immediately opened their mouths and began to speak...
Su Ziyang concluded by summarizing and explaining to everyone.
Decoction: This refers to medicines that are decocted in water and taken orally.
The advantages are that it is absorbed quickly, takes effect quickly, and can be adjusted flexibly. It is suitable for patients with severe or unstable conditions and is the most commonly used dosage form in clinical practice.
Pills: A round solid dosage form made by grinding drugs into powder and adding a binder. They are absorbed slowly and have a long-lasting effect, making them suitable for chronic diseases and drugs that need to be taken for a long time.
Powder: A uniform powder made from a drug, available for both internal and external use. It is fast-acting, easy to prepare, and suitable for acute illnesses or external sores.
Ointments: divided into oral ointments and external ointments.
This internally taken tonic has strong nourishing and restorative effects, and is suitable for replenishing deficiencies and regulating the body.
Topical ointments are used for surgical sores or rheumatic pain.
Pills: mostly made from mineral medicines, with potent effects, but now rarely used in clinical practice.
Prescriptions are not fixed and can be flexibly adjusted according to changes in the patient's condition. There are three main types of adjustments.
Modification of the prescription: If the main symptoms remain unchanged, add or remove secondary drugs according to changes in concurrent symptoms, while keeping the principal drug unchanged.
For example, Cinnamon Twig Decoction can be modified by adding Ge Gen (kudzu root) to become Cinnamon Twig Decoction Plus Kudzu Root, which is used to treat exterior syndromes accompanied by stiffness and pain in the neck and back.
Adjusting the dosage: Keeping the ingredients the same, adjusting the dosage changes the potency and indications of the prescription.
For example, Minor Chengqi Decoction and Magnolia Bark Three-Ingredient Decoction have the same ingredients but different dosages and indications.
Dosage form change: The ingredients and dosage remain the same, but the dosage form is changed to alter the onset speed and potency of the medicine.
For example, changing Pill to Regulate the Middle to Decoction to Regulate the Middle would make it take effect faster and have a stronger medicinal effect.
Basic formulas are classic formulas commonly used in clinical practice, such as the Four Gentlemen Decoction (ginseng, atractylodes macrocephala, poria cocos, and licorice) for tonifying qi, the Cinnamon Twig Decoction (cinnamon twig, peony root, ginger, jujube, and licorice) for relieving exterior syndromes, and the Minor Bupleurum Decoction for harmonizing shaoyang. These are all effective formulas that have been verified by long-term clinical practice.
When learning prescriptions, don't just memorize them. Understand the thought process and logic behind the prescriptions, and grasp the core pathogenesis and compatibility characteristics of each prescription in order to apply them flexibly.
With Su Ziyang's explanation, everyone quickly took notes, just like a group of first-graders.