1

Theory (Principles of treatments)

Root cause (ben) and manifestations (biao)
Zhengqi and Xieqi
Cause and symptoms
Primary and secondary
Internal and external
Root and Manifestation of Disease
Principle:
For acute disorders treat the manifestations first.
For chronic disorders treat the root.
Simultaneous treatment of the root and manifestation.
2
Theory (Principles of treatments)
Normal (zheng) and Contrary (fan) treatment
Normal treatment
Contrary treatment
False or misleading symptoms
Blockage is treated by blocking (sai yin sai yong)
Too much flow is treated by facilitating flow
3
Theory (Principles of treatments)

Different treatments for the same disease.
Same treatment for different disease.
Treating disease according to the Season,
Environment and Individual.
4
Traditional eight strategies
1. Sweating (han fa)
2. Vomiting (tu fa)
3. Draining Downward (xia fa)
4. Harmonizing (he fa)
5. Warming (wen fa)
6. Clearing (qing fa)
7. Reducing (xiao fa)
8. Tonifying (bu fa)
5
Traditional eight strategies
1. Sweating (han fa)
Exterior excess conditions
Measles and rashes
Acute edema
Wind-dampness caused pain

6
Traditional eight strategies
2. Vomiting (tu fa)
Phlegm in the throat
Phlegm in the chest
Food stagnation
Ingestion of poisons



7
Traditional eight strategies
4. Harmonizing (he fa)
Harmonize the functions of different levels or
organs
Lesser yang disorders

8
Categories
1. Release the exterior (jie biao ji)
2. Clear heat (qing re ji)
3. Drain downward (xie xia ji)
4. Harmonize (he jie ji)
5. Treat dryness (zhi zao ji)
6. Expel dampness (qu shi ji)
7. Warm interior cold (wen li ji)
8. Tonify (bu yi ji)
9. Regulate qi (li qi ji)
10. Invigorate the blood (huo xue ji)
11. Stop bleeding (zhi xue ji)
12. Stabilize and bind (gu se ji)
13. Calm the spirit (an shen ji)
14. Expel wind (qu feng ji)
15. Open the orifice (kai qiao ji)
16. Treat phlegm (qu tan ji)
17. Reduce food stagnation (xiao dao ji)
18. Expel parasites (qu chong ji)
9
Traditional eight strategies
7. Reducing (xiao fa)
Gradually reduces or eliminates clumping or
accumulation due to stagnation

10
Hierarchy of ingredients
Chief (Monarch, King or emperor):
The ingredient is directed against, and has the greatest effect upon, the
principal pattern or diseases
It is absolutely indispensable to the formula
Deputy (Minister, associate):
Aids the chief ingredient in treating the principal pattern or disease
Serves as the main ingredient directed against a coexisting pattern or
disease
Assistant (adjutant):
Reinforce the effect of the chief or deputy ingredients, or directly treats a less
important aspects of the pattern or disease helpful assistant (zuo zhu)
Moderates or eliminates the toxicity of the chief or deputy ingredients, or
moderates their harsh propertiescorrective assistant (zuo zhi)
Has an effect that is opposite that of the chief ingredient and is used in very
serious and complex disordersopposing assistant (zuo fan)
Envoy (messenger, guide, conductant):
Focuses the actions of the formula on a certain channel or area of the body
(yin jing yao)
Harmonizes and integrates the actions of the other ingredients (tiao he yao)

11
Modifications in composition
Modification of dosage
Xiao cheng qi tang and hou po si wu tang
Si ni tang and tong mai si ni tang
Modification of the ingredients
The primary action and chief ingredient do not change, Minor
ingredients are added or subtracted, gui zhi tang and gui zhi jia
hou po xing zi tang
The chief ingredient remains the same, other ingredients are
changed, the action of the formulas is also changed, zuo jin wan
and jiao tai wan
An alteration in the ingredients changes the formula so
fundamentally that its character, hierarchy and actions are
completely different. ma huang tang and ma xing shi gan tang
Modification of the form of administration
12
Methods of delivery
Decoctions (tang)
Container for decoction
earthenware
Process of decoction
Herbs needing special decoction
Decocted first (xian jian): fu zi, shi jue ming, long gu, bie jia
Added near end (hou xia): bo he, sha ren, huo xiang, pei lan
Decocted in gauze (bao jian): xuan fu huan, che qian zi, chi shi zhi
Separately decocted or simmered (ling jian or ling dun): ren shen, xi yang shen, lu
rong
Dissolved in the strained decoction (rong hua or yang hua): e jiao, yi tang
Taken with the strained decoction (chong fu): chuan bei mu, san qi, zhu li, niu
huang
Pills (wan)
Powders (san)
Special or vermillion pills (dan)
Syrups (tang jiang, gao)
Plasters (gao yao)
Medical Wines (jiu)