Jin Yang - Introduction to Chinese Materia Medica

Introduction to

Chinese Materia Medica

World Century Compendium to TCM

World Century Compendium to TCM Vol. 3

Introduction to

Chinese
Materia Medica

Jin Yang
Huang Huang
Li-jiang Zhu

Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China

translated by

Yun-hui Chen

Published by

World Century Publishing Corporation
27 Warren Street
Suite 401-402
Hackensack, NJ 07601

Distributed by

World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224

USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601

UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013930712

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

World Century Compendium to TCM

A 7-Volume Set

INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA

Volume 3

Copyright 2013 by World Century Publishing Corporation

Published by arrangement with Shanghai Century Publishing Co. Ltd.

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the Publisher.

For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher.

ISBN 978-1-938134-34-0 (Set)

ISBN 978-1-938134-16-6 (pbk)

Typeset by Stallion Press

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Printed in Singapore

AUTHORS REMARKS

In order to make the majority of readers understand the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and its methods of diagnosing and treating diseases in a relatively short period of time, in 1991, Learn to Prescribe Chinese Medical Formulas in 100 days was compiled and published by Shanghai Scientific & Technical Publisher and The Commercial Press (Hong Kong) Limited. It provided a brief introduction to the basic characteristics and theory of traditional Chinese medicine, and a detailed schedule of learning a commonly-seen diseases and patterns and their corresponding around 60 prescriptions. This is a great attempt to let more people initially know how to use the theory of traditional Chinese medicine to diagnose and treat common diseases and provide corresponding formulas.

Twenty-one years after its publication, the book remains immensely popular and has been widely regarded as the easy-to-use guide for the beginners. However, to study traditional Chinese medicine in depth, grasp its essence, and apply its theories for both prevention and treatment of disorders, the readers need to learn more than just the basics and should first have a deep understanding of Chinese materia medica, the powerful weapon in the treatment of disorders. Hereby, we compile this book as a supplementary to Learn to Prescribe Chinese Medical Formulas in 100 days and give a reference to the readers who are strongly interested in traditional Chinese medicine. Readers will be exposed to the theories of Chinese materia medica, detailed information on more than 200 kinds of herbs, and further interpretation of Learn to Prescribe Chinese Medical Formulas in 100 days.

This book aims at facilitating readers with the clinical application and is in line with the principle of correspondence of Chinese medicinals and patterns. It contains a brief introduction to relative theories, divides these medicinals by actions into exterior-releasing, heat-clearing, purgative, dampness-dispelling, fluid retention-disinhibiting, interior-warming, qi-regulating, blood-invigorating, blood-stanching, food accumulation-relieving, phlegm, cough and wheezing-arresting, mind-tranquilizing, liver-calming, orifices-opening, tonifying, astringing, and worm-dispelling categorizes, and elaborate each herb in terms of actions, quality, indications, usage, and dosage. Furthermore, mnemonics and simple and effective formulas are provided to help readers know more practical applications, and precautions and daily practices are specifically designed to help readers to digest the content easier.

It continues to build the contents page on the chosen styles of Learn to Prescribe Chinese Medical Formulas in 100 days, one section one day, six days a week, fourteen weeks one hundred days.

Same as Learn to Prescribe Chinese Medical Formulas in 100 days, readers are expected to carry out day-to-day and week-to-week tasks following the order of the medicinal listed in this book. Progresses can really be accomplished with one hour a day and few more minutes to recite Mnemonics, patience and perseverance are two essential qualities for success.

Statement of revised edition of Learn Chinese Materia Medica in 100 Days

It has been 9 years since the first Collection of Mastering Traditional Chinese Medicine in 100 days came out in 1996. This series is popular among readers because of its distinctive compile style, profound contents written in simple and easy-to-master approaches, and pragmatic explanation conducive to clinical application. Eleven different kinds of books are available at the market and have been reprinted again and again, among which the best seller has been reprinted up to 100,000 copies.

Between the end of 20th century and the beginning of 21st century, disease spectrum has witnessed tremendous changes; correspondingly, clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine has also been changed in terms of indications and methods. In a bid to provide latest information and techniques concerned, meticulous revisions are made by experts, original style and format are kept, techniques and contents that are outdated and no longer frequently-used are deleted, and new disease species and therapeutic methods are supplemented. We sincerely hope this re-edited series will make due contributions to the promotion of Chinese culture, further publicity of traditional Chinese medicine, and popularization of medical knowledge.