Pharmacy of Sinomedicine mainly includes the contents of nature , function , contraindication, dosage, usage, classification and compatibility of drugs, as well as prescriptions and others . In this chapter , the nature , function , contraindication , classification and compatibility of drugs, as well as prescriptions are analysed with modern scientific theories, to explore their principle and substance .
The nature , function , contraindication and classification of drugs are discussed mainly in this section .
[1].Nature and Function of Drugs
(1).Four Natures
A.Outline Four natures refers to that drugs have four different natures , that is , cold , hot , warm and cool. Some drugs have mild nature , and cold and hot tendencies of these drugs are not obvious , so it is called neutral nature.
Four natures are summarized according to the different responses and curative effects occurring after action of the drugs on human body . The drugs which can clear away heat and toxic materials , cool the blood , and purge fire , being used to treat heat-syndrome are mostly cold-natured or cool-natured ; the drugs which can eliminate cold-evil , warm the interior , strengthen yang , and invigorate vital energy , being used to treat cold-syndrome are mostly warm-natured or hot-natured.
B.Principle We explore the essence of four natures mainly through two aspects , that is , chemical components and biological effect of the drugs.
(A).Relation between Chemical Components of the Drugs and Four Natures Chemical components of Chinese materia medica are very complicated , and they usually includes carbohydrate , amino acid , protein , fat , wax , enzyme , pigment , vitamin , organic acid , tannin , volatile oil , alkaloid , glycoside , mineral salt , microelement and others . Among them , the components which have obvious biological activity are called active principles . Cold , hot , warm and cool natures of the drugs are comprehensive embodiment of the various active principles they contain. Cold-natured drugs contain more cold-natured components , while hot-natured ones contain more hot-natured components . In the following paragraphs , we will explore the relation between chemical structure of active principle and nature of the drugs .
Άρ.Alkaloids : Cold and hot natures of alkaloids relate to number and existent state of nitrogen atom in their molecules .
Generally speaking , the more the number of nitrogen atom in a molecule of an alkaloid is , the strenger cold nature of this alkaloid is . For example , there are two nitrogen atoms in the molecules of anagyrine and matrine which exist in Radix Sophorae Flavescentis.
Nitrogen atom in molecules of alkaloids can exist in states of primary amine,secondary amine,tertiary amine and quaternary ammonium.
RNH2 --------- Primary Amine
R2NH --------- Secondary Amine
R3H --------- Tertiary Amine
R4N+ --------- Quaternary Ammonium
Generally speaking , when nitrogen atoms in alkaloids exist in states of quaternary ammonium and primary amine , they show cold nature ; and when nitrogen atoms in alkaloids which contain one nitrogen atom exist in states of secondary amine and tertiary amine , they show hot nature . For example , berberine contained in Rhizoma Coptidis is a derivative of quaternary ammonium ; a nitrogen atom in leonurine contained in Herba Leonuri exists in state of primary amine ; ephedrine contained in Herba Ephedrae is a derivative of secondary amine which contains one nitrogen atom ; and corydalis B contained in Rhizoma Corydalis is a derivative of tertiary amine which contains one nitrogen atom .
Άς.Other Organic Components : Besides alkaloid , active principles of Chinese materia medica also include glycoside , volatile oil , tannin , amino acid , phytochrom and others . Generally speaking , among these compounds , the more hydroxyls (-OH) and carbon-carbon double bonds (C=C) in the molecules are , the stronger cold nature of compound is . For example , chemical structure of Camphora is similar to that of Dryobalanops Aromatica , the latter is cool-natured because its molecule has hydroxyl , which the former is hot-natured because its molecule has not hydroxyl.
Radix Rehmannia contains catapol and mannitol , it is cold-natured , and it can root the blood . When Radix Rehmannia is made into Rehmanniae Praeparatae , the latter is slightly warm-natured , and it can enrich the blood . This may relate to that catapol and mannitol are damaged because of action of heat.
Nature of a drug relates to power of hydrogen (pH) of organic components in it . Generally speaking , the stronger acidity of organic components in it is , the stronger hot nature of the drug is ; while the stronger alkalinity of organic components in it is , the stronger cold nature of the drug is .
Άσ.Inorganic Elements and Microelements : Nature of a drug relates to inorganic elements and microelements contained in the drug . Macroelements include calcium , magnesium , potassium , sodium , sulfur , phosphorus chlorine and others . Generally speaking , alkaline elements , such as sodium , potassium , calcium , magnesium and others show cold nature , and the stronger alkalinity is , the stronger cold nature of the drug is ; while acid elemets , such as phosphorus , sulfur , chlorine and others show hot nature , and the stronger acidity is , the stronger hot nature of the drug is .
For microelements , iron , cobalt , molybdenum , fluorine and bromine show hot nature ; copper , manganese , chromium and iodine show cold nature ; and zinc and selenium show neutral nature .
In a word , nature of each drug is a comprehensive embodiment of organic components , inorganic elements and microelements contained in this drug . Many drugs contain hot-natured components and cold-natured ones simultaneously . Natures of these drugs depend on the proportion of hot-natured components to cold-natured components .
(B).Relation between Biological Effects of the Drugs and Four Natures
Hot-natured drugs and cold-natured drugs cause different biological effects in human body .
In aspect of the nervous system , hot-natured drugs raise excitability of the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system , and lower excitability of the parasympathetic nervous system ; and cold-natured drugs inhibit excitability of the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system , and raise excitability of the parasympathetic nervous system .
In aspect of endocrine , hot-natured drugs increase secretion of yang hormones and decrease secretion of yin hormones . Cold-natured drugs have contrary effects .
In aspect of immunity , generally speaking , hot-natured drugs have effect of inhibiting allergic reaction ; cold-natured drugs have the effects of resisting pathogenic microorganisms and promoting specific immunity and nonspecific immunity .
In aspect of the blood , generally speaking , hot-natured drugs can increase blood capacity , raise content of nonprotein nitrogen compounds , carbohydrates and lipids in the plasma , strengthen activity of the phagocytes , strengthen activity of the fibrinolytic system , weaken activity of the coagulative system , and inhibit gathering nature of the thrombocytes ; cold-natured drugs have contrary effects.
In aspect of blood circulation , generally speaking , hot-natured drugs have the effects of tonicizing the heart , increasing cardiac output , dilating and filling the micrangiums , accelerating bloodstream in them , and increasing number of the opening micrangiums ; cold-natured drugs have contrary effects .
In aspect of energy metabolism , hot-natured drugs can increase energy metabolic rate and heat production , cold-natured drugs can decrease energy metabolic rate and heat production .
In aspect of the respiratory system , hot-natured drugs can dilate the respiratory tract and strengthen respiration ; cold-natured drugs can weaken respiration .
In aspect of the digestive system , hot-natured drugs promote secretion of digesting enzyme and absorption of nutritional substances and water in the digestive tract , inhibit contraction of the smooth muscle in the digestive tract , promote contraction of the sphincters , and inhibit secretion of bile and clear and thin digesting fluid ; cold-natured drugs promote contraction of the smooth muscle in the digestive tract , inhibit contraction of the sphincters , and promote secretion of bile and digesting fluid.
In aspect of the urinary system , hot-natured drugs can weaken filtration of the glomeruli , strengthen reabsorption of the uriniferous tubules and collecting tubules , and contract the vesical endosphincters ; cold-natured drugs have contrary effects.
In aspect of the muscular system , hot-natured drugs can increase tonicity of the muscles , especially the extensors and abductors ; cold-natured drugs can decrease tonicity of the extensors and abductors.
At the level of cell and molecule , hot-natured drugs can raise cAMP content , lower cGMP content , increase oxygen consumption in the cells , and promote synthesis of functional proteins in them ; raise cGMP content , decrease oxygen consumption in the cells , and promote synthesis of structural proteins in them .
(2).Five Flavours
A.Outline Five flavours refer to acrid , sweet , sour , bitter and salty flavours . Some drugs also have bland flavour or astringent flavour .
Acrid flavour : Having the effects of dispersing , promoting vital energy circulation , promoting blood circulation , or moisturizing and nourishing , and others.
Sweet flavour : Having the effects of invigorating , regulating the middle warmer , relieving spasm , and others .
Sour flavour : Having the effects of inducing astringency and arresting discharge .
Astringent flavour : Having the same effects as sour flavour.
Bitter flavour : Having the effects of relaxing the bowels to expel interior-heat , sending down the adverse flow of vital energy to expel heat-evil , clearing away heat , depriving evil wetness , and fortifying yin .
Salty flavour : Having the effects of softening hard lumps , dispelling nodes , purgating and others .
Bland flavour : Having the effects of eliminating wetness and promoting diuresis.
Many drugs have more than one flavour. The effects of the drugs with more than one flavour are more complicated.
Every drug has nature and flavour. Only considering both nature and flavour of a drug can we overall understand and correctly use this drug.
B.Principle Flavours of drugs relate to chemical components contained in the drugs closely.
Acrid flavour : The drugs with acrid flavour generally contain volatile oils , amphiphilic alkaloids and others . Taste determinant group of amphiphilic alkaloid is its polar head , and taste assistant group of it is its non-polar tail . When length of carbon chain is about n-C9 , acrid flavour is the strongest . Volatile oils , amphiphilic alkaloids and others contained in the drugs with acrid flavour have the effects of exciting the central nervous system , regulating secretion of the sweat glands , regulating the smooth muscles in the blood vessels and internal organs , and others , thus being able to disperse , promote vital energy circulation , and promote blood circulation . The invigorating and nourishing drugs with acrid flavour mostly contain resins , glycosides and other substances which have roborant effect for human body.
Sweet flavour : The drugs with sweet flavour generally contain carbohydrates , saponins , alcohols , organic acids , organic acid salts , amino acids , proteins and vitamines . These substances are nutritional components needed by human body , or they can promote the functions of human body . Therefore , the drugs with sweet flavour mostly have the effects of invigorating and nourishing . Maltose mainly containe malt sugar , being able to inhibit spastic contraction of the smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract and increase bloodflow of the gastrointestinal tract and increase bloodflow of the gastrointestinal trat , thus being able to strengthen the middle-warmer and relieve pain . Radix Glycyrrhizae contains glycyrrhizin which is potassium salt and calcium salt of glycyrrhizic acid , in addition , it contains liquiritin , glucose , saccharose and others . After hydrolysis , glycyrrhizic acid changes into glucuronic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid . Glycyrrhizin has the effect of detoxication ,and its mechanism includes conjugation and detoxication of glucuronic acid , adrenocorticomimetic effect , adsorption of glycyrrhizin , and others.
Sour flavour : The drugs with sour flavour mostly contain organic acids and tannins , and they can regulate the activities of the sweat glands and the smooth muscles in the digestive tract and urogenital tract , and perform astriction for ulcer in the mucous membrane.
Astringent flavour : The drugs with astringent flavour contain tannins . In addition , some of them contain slightly soluble mineral salts which can lower excitability of the smooth muscles in the digestive tract and urogenital tract , inhibit secretion of the sweat glands , and astrict ulcer in the mucous membrane .
Bitter flavour : The drugs with bitter flavour generally contain alkaloids , terpenes and glycosides ( including flavone glycoside , anthraquinone glycoside , cardiac glycoside , steroid glycoside , cyanophoric glycoside , phenol glycoside and others ) . Generally speaking , the stronger alkalinity of alkaloid is , the more bitter it is , and after it produce salt , the latter is still bitter . Terpenes with the structures , such as lactone , aldolactol , internal hydrogen bond , glycoside , hydroxyl and others which can produce chelates are bitter . Polyhydric alcohols , glycosides and sterols in which specific value of number of hydroxyl to that of carbon atom R is between 2-7 are bitter . Relaxing the bowels to expel interior-heat refers to the effects of moving the bowels and lowering metabolic rate of the organism . Sending down adverse flow of vital energy to expel heat-evil refers to the effect of inhibiting the respiratory centers to relieve cough and asthma . Clearing away heat refers to the effects of inhibiting secretion of yang hormones , inhibiting the central nerves , and lowering blood pressure . Depriving evil wetness refers to the effect of inhibiting inflammatory exudation . Fortifying yin refers to the effects of decreasing excitability of the sympathetic system and increasing excitability of the parasympathetic system .
Salty flavour : The drugs with salty flavour contain inorganic materials , such as sodium , potassium , calcium , magnesium , aluminium , iodine and others , and other active components , which have the effects of inhibiting hyperplasia , resisting tuberculosis , purging and others.
Bland flavour : Active principles of the drugs with bland flavour mostly carry hydroxyl , having the effect of promoting diuresis .
A drug usually contains many kinds of active principles , therefore , it can have more than one flavour . The drugs with different flavour , or the drugs with same flavour but different natures have different effects , because they contain different active principles.
(3).Channel Trapism
A.Outline Linking the effects of a drug with the relation of the zang-organs or fu-organs and the channels to explain the treating effects of this drug to pathological changes of the certain zang-organs , fu-organs or channels , is called channel tropism .
In " Emperor's Canon of Medicine " , the discussion on " five kinds of entering " and " five kinds of going " , was recorded . " Five kinds of entering " is : sour flavour enters the liver , bitter flavour enters the heart , sweet flavour enters the spleen , acrid flavour enters the lung , and salty flavour enters the kidney . " Five kinds of going " is : sour flavour goes to the tendon , acrid flavour goes to the vital energy , bitter flavour goes to the blood , salty flavour goes to the bone , and sweet flavour goes to the muscle .
Determination of channel tropism of most drugs bases on the treating effects of the drugs.
Some drugs which can guide potency of other drugs to reach the regions of pathological changes or the certain channels are called channel guiding drugs .
B.Principle The theory of channel tropism is mainly summed up from medical practice , being a scientific theory in certain degree.
Five flavours have certain relation with channel tropism .
The drugs with sour flavour mostly contain organic acids , tannins and other active components . Some sour-flavoured drugs have the effects of promoting sedation , regulating functions of the vegetative nervous system , regulating activities of the smooth muscles in the internal organs and blood vessels , dilating the blood vessels , lowering blood pressure , lowering cholesterol , promoting choleresis and others . This is substance of the situation that sour flavour enters the liver . Some sour-flavoured drugs have the effects of resisting convulsion , resisting spasm , resisting rheumatism and others . This is substance of the situation that sour flavour goes to the tendon .
The bitter-flavoured drugs generally contain alkaloids , terpenes , carbohydrates and other active components . Some bitter-flavoured drugs can regulate function of the heart directly , or indirectly through the endocrine and vegetative nerves , and they also regulate blood capacity , blood prssure , blood-sugar , hemocytogenesis , activity of the coagulative system and fibrinolytic system , as well as permeability of the capillaries . This is substance of the situation that bitter flavour enters the heart , and bitter flavour goes to the blood .
Sweet-flavoured drugs contain carbohydrates , saponins , organic acids , amino acids , proteins , vitamins and others . Some sweet-flavoured drugs have the effects of regulating movement and secretion of the digestive tract , regulating secretion of pancreatic fluid , promoting digestion and absorption , increasing number of the erythrocytes , strengthening immunity and regulating water metabolism . This is substance of the situation that sweet flavour enters the spleen . Some sweet-flavoured drugs contain abundant amino acids , proteins and vitamins , which can make the muscles be well-developed and powerful . This is substance of the situation that sweet flavour goes to the muscles.
Acrid-flavoured drugs contain volatile oils or amphiphilic alkaloids and others . Some acrid-flavoured drugs have the effects of dilating the respiratory tract , improving respiration , regulating secretion of the sweat glands , and others . This is substance of the situation that acrid flavour enters the lung . Some acrid-flavoured drugs have the effects of exciting the central nervous system , and regulating the smooth muscles in the blood vessels and internal organs . This is substance of the situation that acrid flavour goes to the vital energy .
Salty-flavoured drugs contain mineral salt and other active components . Mineral salt have the effect of regulating uropoiesis of the kidneys . This is substance of the situation that salty flavour enters the kidney . Some salty-flavoured drugs contain the elements , such as calcium , phosphorus and others which constitute the bone. This is substance of the situation that salty flavour goes to the bone.
The way of action of the channel guiding drugs may be regulating bloodflow of the tissues and organs in the regions the channel passes and arousing activity of drug receptor in cell membrane of the certain organs . Radix Platycodi can carry the drugs to float upwards , and its substance may be increasing bloodflow of the throat , trachea and bronchi. Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae can guide the drugs to travel downwards, and its substance may be increasing bloodflow of the lower extremity.
(4).Lifting,Lowering,Floating and Sinking
A.Outline Lifting , lowering , floating and sinking refer to the tendencies of action of the drugs . The drugs with different tendencies of action can perform regulation to different tendencies of syndromes.
Generally speaking , upward and outward actions are called lifting and floating , downward and inward actions are called sinking and lowering. These actions of the drugs have close relation with the factors, such as natures and flavours of the drugs , thickness or thinness of odour and flavour of them, light or heavy qualities of them, methods of preparation of the crude drugs, compatibility and prescription of the drugs , and others.
For natures and flavours of drugs, the acrid, sweet and warm drugs have the effects of lifting and floating; the bitter, sour, salty, cold and cool drugs have the effects of sinking and lowering. For thickness or thinness of odour and flavour , among the acrid and warm drugs, those with thin odour can mostly promote sweating to expel exogenous evils from body surface and lifting up yang energy, while those with thick odour can mostly warm the interior and expel cold; among the bitter, salty and cold drugs, those with thick flavour can mostly clear away heat and purge while those with thin flavour can mostly promote downward movement and discharge of feces and urine.
For light or heavy quality of drugs, flowers and leaves of plants have lighter, quality and they can mostly lift and float, seeds and fruits of plants, and minerals have heavier quality and sticky and greasy nature, and they can mostly sink and lower. However, there are exceptions to this rule, for example, Flos Inulae is flower, but it can lower; Fructus Arctii is fruit, but it can lift.
For methods of preparation of the crude drugs, the drugs prepared with alcohol have the effect of lifting ; those prepared with ginger juice ( Succus Zingiberis ) have the effect of dispersing ; those prepared with vinegar have the effect of astringing ; those prepared with salt have the effects of going to the kidney and travelling downwards.
For compatibility of the drugs , when a lifting or floating drug is matched with a series of sinking and lowering drugs , the former can also fall with the latter ; when a sinking or lowering drug is matched with a series of lifting or floating drugs, the former can also rise with the latter.
B.Principle Pathological responses have different tendencies . Generally speaking , the situation that pathological changes occur in the upper part of body and pathological products discharge from the orifices in the upper part of body is called upwardness ; the situation that pathological changes occur in the lower part of body and pathological products discharge from the orifices in the lower part of body is called downwardness ; the situation that pathological changes develop from body surface to the internal organs is called inwardness ; the situation that pathological changes of the internal organs influence body surface , and pathological products discharge from body surface is called outwardness. The drugs have the effect of regulating the tendencies of pathological responses.
The lifting and floating drugs have the effects of raising excitability of the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system ; increasing secretion of yang hormones ; raising blood pressure, increasing bloodflow of the upper part of body ; raising tonicity of the ligaments and smooth muscles of the internal organs, reducing the prolapsed internal organs; increasing bloodflow of body surface, strengthening secretion of the sweat glands; inhibiting allergic reaction; increasing energy metabolic rate and heat production, and others.The sinking and lowering drugs have the effects of inhibiting excitability of the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system, strengthening excitability of the parasympathetic nervous system; increasing secretion of yin hormones ; lowering blood pressure, increasing bloodflow of the lower part of body ; inhibiting antiperistalsis of the digestive tract , inhibiting the respiratory center to relieve cough and calm asthma ; resisting pathogenic microorganism , resisting inflammation , relieving fever , relieving inflammatory exudation ; accelerating water excretion , decreasing blood capacity ; accelerating defecation , and others.
Relations of lifting , lowering , floating and sinking characters of drugs with natures , odours , flavours , qualities and methods of preparation of the drugs are embodiment of different active principles contained in the drugs.
The acrid-flavoured drugs contain volatile oils , amphiphilic alkaloids and other components , therefore , these drugs have the effects of exciting the central nervous system , exciting respiratory centers , exciting the sympathetic nervous system , exciting adrenal cortex , exciting sex glands , tonicizing the heart , contracting the blood vessels , raising blood pressure , increasing bloodflow of the cerebral arteries , coronary arteries and blood vessels in the skin , relieving fever and promoting sweat , inhibiting allergic reaction , inhibiting tachyperistalsis of the digestive tract , promoting obsorption of the digestive tract , and others.
The sweet-flavoured drugs contain carbohydrates , saponins , alcohols , organic acids , amino acids , proteins , vitamins and other components , therefore , these drugs have the effects of exciting the central nervous system , exciting the respiratory centers , exciting the pituitary-adrenocortical system , exciting sex glands , tonicizing the heart , raising blood pressure , increasing bloodflow of the coronary arteries , promoting hematopoiesis , resisting diuresis , inhibiting allergic reaction , tonicizing and others.
The warm-natured and hot-natured drugs generally have effects of exciting the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system , promoting secretion of yang hormones , tonicizing the heart , raising blood pressure , raising metabolic rate and heat production , and others.
This is substance of the situation that acrid , sweet and warm drugs have the effects of lifting and floating.
The bitter-flavoured drugs contain alkaloids , terpenes , glycosides and other components , therefore , these drugs have the effects of resisting pathogenic microorganisms , resisting infection , inhibiting the central nervous system , promoting sedation , inhibiting the heat-producing center, inhibiting the respiratory centers , inhibiting secretion of yang hormones , inhibiting function of thee heart , dilating blood vessels , lowering blood pressure , lowering blood-sugar , lowering permeability of the capillaries , promoting diuresis , purging , eliminating toxic materials , relieving tract , promoting choleresis , strengthening phagocytosis of the phagocytes , inhibiting hyperblastosis , stopping bleeding , and others.
The sour-flavoured drugs contain organic acids , tannins and other components , therefore , these drugs have the effects of inhibiting many kinds of bacteria , promoting sedation , dilating blood vessels , lowering blood pressure , lowering cholesterol , promoting movement and secretion of the digestive tract , promoting choleresis , promoting diuresis , astringing , stopping bleeding , and others.
The salty-flavoured drugs contain inorganic materials , such as sodium , potassium , calcium , magnesium , aluminium , iodinee and others , as well as other active components , therefore , these drugs have the effects of promoting sedation , resisting convulsion , inhibiting function of the thyroid gland , lowering basic metabolic rate , lowering blood pressure , lowering blood-fat , lowering total number of the blood cells in the blood of the ending blood vessels , promoting diuresis , purging , relieving fever , promoting choleresis , inhibiting hyperblastosis , and others.
The cold-natured and cool-natured drugs generally have the effects of inhibiting the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system , inhibiting secretion of yang hormones , inhibiting function of the heart , lowering blood pressure , lowering metabolic rate and heat production , and others.
This is substance of the situation that the bitter , sour , salty , cold and cool drugs have the effects of sinking and lowering .
Among acrid and warm drugs , volatile oils and amphiphilic alkaloids contained in the thin-odoured drugs are constituted by the materials with smaller molecular weight , such as ephedrine contained by Herba Ephedrae and menthel contained by Herba Menthae ; Volatile oils and amphiphilic alkaloids contained in the thick-odoured drugs are constituted by the materials with larger molecular weight , such as mesaconitine contained in Radix Aconiti Praeparata and gingerol contained in Rhizoma Zingiberis . The thin-odoured drugs can dilate the blood vessels of body surface , increase bloodflow of the skin , promote secretion of the sweat glands , thus being able to expel the evils from body surface . The thick-odoured drugs can increasing irrigating capacity of the micrangiums of the internal organs and raising metabolic rate and heat production of the tissues in the internal organs , thus being able to warm the interior.
Among the bitter , salty and cold drugs , the thick-flavoured drugs contain macroalicyclic alkaloids , macrolides , glycosides in which genins are lactone and aldolactol , or a large amount of mineral salts , therefore , these drugs have the effects of resisting pathogenic microorganisms , lowering metabolic rate and heat production,purging and others ; the thin-flvoured drugs contain alkaloids with weaker alkaline , organic components with hydroxyl , fats a small amount of mineral salts , and other components , therefore , these drugs have the effects of promoting diuresis and relaxing the bowels demulcently .
Qualities of drugs have certain relation with the chemical components contained by them . The flowers and leaves of plants have lighter quality , and they mostly contain volatile oils ; the seeds and fruits of plants have heavier quality , they mostly contain macromolecular substances , and the components contained by them have stronger hydrophilism ; the minerals also have heavier quality , and they contain mineral salts . The volatile oils have the effects of lifting and floating such as promoting sweat and raising blood pressure and others ; the macromolecular substances with stronger hydrophilism and mineral salts have the effects of sinking and lowering such as lowering blood pressure , relieving fever , purging and others.
For the methods of preparation of crude drugs , alcohol can tonicize the heart , raise blood pressure , increase bloodflow of the upper part of body to make the drugs act on the organs in the upper part of body , therefore , the drugs prepared with alcohol have the effect of lifting ; Rhizoma zingiberis Recens can dilate the blood vessels of body surface and make the drugs act on body surface , therefore , the drugs prepared with ginger juice ( Succus Zingiberis ) have the effect of dispersing ; vinegar can increase bloodflow of the digestive tract to make thee drugs act on the internal organs , therefore , the drugs prepared with vinegar have the effect of astringing ; sodium chlocide is discharged out of body through the kidneys , and it can increase bloodflow of the kidneys and lower extremity and make the drugs act on the organs in the lower part of body and lower extremity,therefore , the drugs prepared with salt have the effects of going to the kidney and travelling downwards.
After compatibility of drugs , the effects of them restrict each other . When a lifting or floating drug is matched with a series of sinking and lowering drugs , its lifting or floating effect can be counteracted , therefore , it will follow the sinking and lowering drugs to fall ; when a sinking or lowering drug is matched with a series of lifting and floating drugs , its sinking or lowering effect can be counteracted , therefore , it will follow the lifting and floating drugs to rise.