A.Outline The drugs which can eliminate wind-wetness evil and treat arthralgia-syndrome are called drugs for eliminating wind-wetness evil.

B.Principle The drugs for eliminating wind-wetness evil have the effects of resisting inflammation,resisting allergic reaction, promoting sedation,easing pain,dilating the blood vessels,lowering blood pressure, promoting diuresis,relaxing the skeletal muscle,and others.

The effects of resisting inflammation and resisting allergic reaction of the drugs for eliminating wind-wetness evil are realized by exciting the sympathetic-adrenal system and pituitary-adrenocortical system.

(4).Drugs for Resolving Wetness and Promoting Diuresis

A.Outline The drugs with fragrance which can expel wetness evil and the drugs which can promote diuresis and filtrate wetness evil are called drugs for resolving wetness and promoting diuresis.

B.Principle Disturbance of water metabolism in certain degree can be found in all wetness syndromes.

The drugs with fragrance for expelling wetness evil contain volatile oil components,and these drugs have the effects of regulating movement of the digestive tract, stimulating secretion of digesting fluid promoting diuresis,relieving edema of tissues of the digestive tract, resisting bacteria,and others.

The active principles contained in the drugs for promoting diuresis and filtrating wetness evil have stronger hydrophilism, these principles mostly carry hydroxyl and carbon-carbon double bond or contain mineral salts, and they have the effects of promoting diuresis, promoting choleresis and cholerrhagia , resisting bacteria, protecting the liver, and others.

(5).Drugs for Warming the Interior

A.Outline The drugs which have hot-nature or warm-nature and treat internal cold syndrome are called drugs for warming the interior.

B.Principle The drugs for warming the interior contain volatile oils,amphiphilic alkaloids and other components,which have larger molecular weight.These drugs have thee effects of exciting the central nervous system, exciting the sympathetic nervous system, increasing secretion of yang hormones, tonicizing the heart, improving microcirculation of the internal organs (especially the digestive system) and body surface,raising metabolic rate and heat production of the tissues, strengthening functions of the tissues, strengthening functions of the internal organs,and others.

(6).Drugs for Clearing away Heat

A.Outline The drugs which have cold-nature or cool-nature and take clearing away internal heat as their main effect are called drugs for clearing away heat.

According to properties of the drugs,the drugs for clearing away heat can be divided into four types,that is,drugs for clearing away heat and purging fire,drugs for clearing away heat and toxic materials,drugs for clearing away heat and depriving wetness evil, and drugs for clearing away heat and cooling the blood.

B.Principle The drugs for clearing away heat have the effects of resisting pathogenic microorganisms , strengthening immunity of organism , resisting allergic reaction , relieving fever , promoting sedation , lowering blood pressure and others . Generally speaking , the drugs for clearing heat have the effect of lowering metabolic rate and heat production of organism . This effect may be realized by the ways of resisting pathogenic microorganisms , clearing away toxic materials , inhibiting the neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes to release endogenous pyrogen , inhibiting heat-producing center , inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system , inhibiting secretion of yang hormones , reducing bloodflow of whole body or certain regions , and others .

The drugs for clearing away heat and purging fire have the effects of resisting bacteria , inhibiting the central nervous system , inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system , lowering metabolic rate and heat production of organism , promoting diuresis , reducing blood capacity , lowering blood pressure , and others.

The drugs for clearing away heat and toxic materials have the effects of resisting infection of pathogenic microorganisms , resisting inflammation , resisting tumors , and others . These effects relate to directly inhibiting and killing pathogens , strengthening immunity of organism , antagonizing dysfunction caused by endotoxins , and strengthening function of the adrenal cortex.

The drugs for clearing away heat and depriving wetness evil have the effects of resisting pathogenic microorganisms , inhibiting inflammatory exudation , promoting diuresis , promoting choleresis and cholerrhagia , and others.

The drugs for clearing away heat and cooling the blood have the effects of inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system , inhibiting secretion of yang hormones , lowering metabolic rate and heat production of organism , lowering blood pressure , strengthening activity of the coagulative system , inhibiting activity of the fibrinolytic system , inhibiting permeability of the capillaries , reducing blood capacity and number of blood cells , and others . A part of the drugs for clearing away heat and cooling the blood have the effect of resisting pathogenic microorganisms.

(7).Drugs for Regulating Qi(Vital Energy)

A.Outline The drugs which can regulate functional activities of vital energy and relieve stagnation of vital energy are called drugs for regulating qi (vital energy).

B.Principle Functional activities of vital energy refers to normal activities of relaxation and contraction of the vascular smooth muscle, splanchnic smooth muscle and skeletal muscle under the regulation of neurohumoral factors.

Substance of " stagnation of vital energy" is dysfunction of relaxation and contraction of the vascular smooth muscle , splanchnic smooth muscle and skeletal muscle directly , or indirectly through the nervous system.

The drugs for promoting circulation of vital energy and regulating functions of the spleen perform double-directional regulation to the smooth muscle in the digestive tract , and perform regulation to secretion of digesting fluid.

The drugs for dispersing stagnated liver-energy and alleviating depression perform regulation to the smooth muscle in the blood vessels of the liver , the smooth muscle in the breast , uterus and digestive tract, and make bloodstream of the liver be fluent , discharge of bile be fluent and functions of the smooth muscles in the breast,uterus and digestive canal return to normal.

The drugs for lowering adverse-rising energy and calming asthma can dilate the respiratory tract and regulate tonicity of the respiratory muscles.

(8).Drugs for Regulating Blood Condition

A.Outline The drugs which can stop bleeding, dredge the blood vessels,and disperse blood stasis are call drugs for regulating blood condition.The drugs for regulating blood condition generally can be divided into four types , that is , drugs for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis , drugs for stopping bleeding , drugs for enriching the blood and drugs for cooling the blood.The drugs for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis and the drugs for stopping bleeding are discussed mainly in this section.

B.Principle The drugs for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis have the following effects : (A). regulating blood circulation of whole body or certain regions , especially microcirculation , maintaining normal circulation, (B). improving the physicochemical properties of the blood , regulating the functions of the coagulative system and anticoagulative system , improving the states of " stickiness , gathering and stagnancy " of the blood , therefore , having the effects of resisting coagulation , dissolving the thrombi , and preventing and treating atherosclerosis; (C). improving permeability of the capillaries , strengthening function of the phagocytes ,inhibiting inflammatory response , promoting localization and absorption of inflammation ; some drugs for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis having the effects of inhibiting bacteria,fungi and viruses as well ; (D).promoting restoration of the traumatic tissues and regeneration of the cells ; regulating immunity , improving reactivity of organism ; ( E ) . inhibiting abnormal hyperplasia of the tumors and tissues , regulating metabolism of the connective tissue , and others.

The drugs for stopping bleeding have the following effects : (A). acting on the process of coagulation and shortening coagulation time by the ways of increasing number of the thrombocytes , exciting gathering nature of the thrombocytes , increasing thrombin in the blood , and others ; (B) contracting the local blood vessels ; (C). improving function of the wall of blood vessels , strengthening resistance of the capillaries , lowering permeability of the micrangiums ; (D). inhibiting activity of the fibrinolytic system .

The drugs for stopping bleeding of various types also have distinctive effects besides the effect of stopping bleeding . The drugs for cooling the blood and stopping bleeding have the effects of lowering metabolic rate and heat production , promoting diuresis , decreasing blood capacity , lowering blood pressure , lowering permeability of the capillaries , and others . The drugs for dissipating blood stasis and stopping bleeding have the effect of lowering viscosity of the blood . The drugs for astringing and stopping bleeding have the effects of promoting growth of the granulations and union of the traumatic surface , alleviating exudation , and others.

(9). Drugs for Elimination Sputum , Relieving Cough and Asthma

A.Outline The drugs which can eliminate sputum are called drugs for eliminating sputum . Drugs of the type can alleviate or inhibit cough and asthma , therefore , these drugs are also called drugs for relieving cough and asthma.

According to their natures and effects , these drugs can be divided into three types , that is , drugs with warm-nature for eliminating cold-sputum , drugs with cold-nature for eliminating hot-sputum , and drugs for relieving cough and asthma .

B.Principle In a word , the drugs for eliminating sputum , relieving cough and asthma can increase secretion of the respiratory tract , thus having the effect of eliminating sputum , these drugs can regulate the respiratory centers , thus having the effect of relieving cough; these drugs can relax the smooth muscle of the respiratory tract , thus having the effect of relieving asthma . Different types of drugs have different characters in the effects , besides these common characters.

The drugs with hot-nature for eliminating cold-sputum can increase bloodflow of the trachea , bronchi and lungs , raise energy metabolic rate of their tissues , and relieve state of edema in the tissues of the respiratory system.

The drugs with cold-nature for eliminating heat-sputum have the effects of resisting bacteria , strongthening immunity , relieving fever , lowering blood pressure , reducing bloodflow of the trachea , bronchi and lungs , and lowering energy metabolic rate of their tissues.

The drugs for relieving cough and asthma can regulate the processes of excitement and inhibition of the respiratory centers , thus having the effect of relieving cough , and these drugs can dilate the respiratory tract , thus having the effect of relieving asthma.

In addition , a part of the drugs for eliminating sputum can be used to treat epilepsy , convulsion and apoplexy , as well as luoli ( lumpo in the neck or axilla ) , tanhe ( phlegm nodules ) , yingliu ( tumor in the neck) and others . Epilepsy , convulsion , apoplexy and others may relate to the changes of excitability of tissue of the brain caused by disturbance of microcirculation and water metabolism in tissues of the brain , and tumescence of the cells in these tissues . A part of the drugs for eliminating sputum have the effects of resisting convulsion , regulating microcirculation and water metabolism in tissues of the brain , and relieving tumescence of cells in the brain , therefore , these drugs can be used to treat epilepsy , convulsion and apoplexy luoli is analogous to lymphatic tuberculosis and chronic lymphadenitis . Yingliu is analogous to goiter and thyrophyma . Treatment of luoli and tanhe may relate to that a part of drugs for eliminating sputum have the effects of resisting bacteria , improving water metabolism , promoting regurgitation of the lymph , and inhibiting tissue hyperplasia . A part of drugs for eliminating sputum contain abundant iodine , and these drugs can inhibit tissue hyperplasia , therefore , they can be used to treat goiter . A part of drugs for eliminating sputum also have the effect of resisting cancer.

(10).Drugs for Invigorating

A.Outline The drugs which can invigorate and nourish insufficiency of vital energy , blood , yin and yang of human body and be used to treat asthenia-syndrome are called drugs for invigorating. These drugs can be divided into four types , that is , drugs for invigorating vital energy , drugs for invigorating yang , drugs for enriching the blood , and drugs for invigorating yin.

B.Principle The drugs for invigorating can replenish the compenents needed by body and strengthen the functions of it.

The drugs for invigorating vital energy have the effects of strengthening the functions of the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system , raising cAMP content , raising energy metabolic rate , and strengthening bioelectricity of the excitable tissues , and these drugs can perform regulation to the organism in its entirety . Their main manifestations are that the drugs can strengthen adaptability of the organism , increase cAMP content in the spleen , duodenum , pancrease , lungs , heart and other organs , strengthen functions of these organs ; strengthen nonspecific immunity of the phagocytes , strengthen cellular immunity , and others. In addition , Radix Ginseng have the effects of stimulating the adrenal cortex and sex glands , and strengthening their functions . This may relate to that Radix Ginseng contains ginsenosides , and genin of ginsenosides has steroid structure, therefore , it supplies a large amount of raw material for make of adrenal cortical hormone and sex hormones.

The drugs for enriching the blood have the effects of promoting hemocytogenesis , regulating content of blood-sugar and blood-fat , strengthening cellular immunity , and others .

The drugs for invigorating yin have the effects of strengthening function of the parasympathetic system , increasing secretion of yin hormones , raising cGMP content , lowering energy metabolic rate , strengthening cellular immunity and humoral immunity , promoting diuresis , lowering blood pressure and others.

The drugs for invigorating yang have the effects of increasing secretion of yang hormones and raising energy metabolic rate . The drugs for invigorating yang mostly warm and invigorate kidney-yang , therefore , the effects of the drugs for invigorating yang mainly show in strengthening the functions of the pituitary gland , adrenal glands, kidneys and sex glands , increasing secretion of adrenaline , noradrenaline , glucocorticoid , erythropoietic factor , antidiuretic hormone and renin , raising metabolic rate of the organism , and strengthening functions of the whole body.

(11). Drugs for Relieving Muscular Spasm and Tranquilizing the Mind

A.Outline The drugs which take calming the liver to stop wind, promoting sedation and relaxing muscular spasm as their main effects are called drugs for relieving muscular spasm.The drugs which have the effects of promoting sedation and tranquilizing the mind are called drugs for tranquilizing the mind.

B.Principle The drugs for relieving muscular spasm have the effects of lowering blood pressure , promoting sedation , hypnotizing , resisting epilepsy , resisting convulsion , regulating tonicity of the smooth muscle and skeletal muscle , relieving fever , easing pain , and others.These effects are realized by lowering excitability of the motor center in the central nervous system and the vegetative nervous center.

The mineral drugs for tranquilizing the mind mostly contain inorganic materials,and these drugs have the effects of central inhibition. Succinum contains succinate.The chemical structure of succinate is similar to that of γ-aminobutyric acid , and it has the effect of central inhibition.

The drugs for tranquilizing the mind by nourishing the heart contain protein,vitamin,glycosides and other materials which have the effects of invigorating and nourishing , and these drugs have the effects of promoting sedation , hypnotizing , resisting convulsion , lowering blood pressure and others . The characteristics of their effects are replenishing the materials needed by body and inhibiting compensative excitement of the central nervous system.

(12).Drugs for Waking up from Unconsciousness

A.Outline The drugs which have fragrant odour,are good at going along the channels , and take loosening the lockjaw and waking up from unconsciousness as their main effects are called drugs for waking up from unconsciousness.

B.Principle The drugs for waking up from unconsciousness mostly contain volatile oil components , and these drugs have the effects of regulating microcirculation of the brain and heart and improving the functions of the central nervous system and heart.

Substance of lockjaw-syndrome is disturbance of consciousness accompanied with increasing of tonicity of the muscles . Metabolic rate of the patient of cold lockjaw-syndrome is lower than that of the person in normal state , while metabolic rate of the patient of heat lockjaw-syndrome is metabolic rate of the patient of heat lockjaw-syndrome is higher than that of the person in normal state.

The drugs for waking up from unconsciousness regulate microcirculation of the brain and heart to make the central nervous system and heart perform normal functions,thus relieving disturbance of consciousness and increase of tonicity of the muscles.

(13).Drugs for Promoting Digestion

A.Outline The drugs which can relieve indigestion and strengthen appetite are called drugs for promoting digestion.

B.Principle The drugs for promoting digestion contain gastric hormone,digestive enzyme , vitamin , organic acid and other materials,and these drugs have the effects of promoting gastrointestinal function , assisting digestion and others.

(14).Drugs for Expelling Parasites

A.Outline The drugs which can expel or kill the enterozoa are called drugs for expelling parasites.

B.Principle The drugs for expelling parasites contain toxic component , and these drugs have the effects of paralyzing and killing the ascaris , ancylostome , oxyurid, taenia, Fasciolopsis buski and other enterozoa.

(15).Drugs for Astringing

A.Outline The drugs which take astriction as their main effect are called drug for astringing.

B.Principle The drugs for astringing contain tannins,organic acids,or mineral salts.These drugs have the effects of regulating functions of the smooth muscles in the urogenital tract , digestive tract, respiratory tract , and blood vessels ; inhibiting secretion of sweat glands ; inhibiting secretion of mucus ; inhibiting exudation of the traumatic face and inflammotory exudation,and others.

(16).Drugs for Being Used Externally

A.Outline The drugs which take dressing ,smearing ,fuming or washing , vesiculating , dropping into the eye , insufflating in the throat , dropping into the ear as their main methods of usage are called drugs for being used externally.

The drugs for being used externally have the effects of detoxifying , detumefying,removing necrotic tissues , draining pus , promoting tissue regeneration , astringing sore , killing parasites, alleviating itch , and others separately.

B.Principle The drugs for being used externally have the following effects : (A).killing pathogens ; (B). resisting bacteria and viruses ; (C).locally stimulating,regulating bloodflow of the regions on where the drugs are used ; (D).astringing and stopping bleeding to decrease bleeding and exudation of the traumatic face or mucous membrane ; ( E ) promoting union of fracture ; (F)protecting and lubricating the skin ; (G).locally paralyzing.

(17).Drugs for Inducing Emesis

A.Outline The drugs which have the effect of causing vomit are called drugs for inducing emesis.

B.Principle The ways of effects of the drugs for inducing emesis are as following:(A).the drugs directly stimulate the sensory nerves in the stomach and reflectively excite the vomiting center in the medulla oblongata to cause emesis ; (B) .the drugs are absorbed into the blood, and they directly stimulate the vomiting center to cause emesis.

The drugs for inducing emesis can promote the contents of the stomach and the secretion of the respiratory tract to discharge through the oral cavity . Emesis can make surplus water discharge out of body, bloodflow of the organs in the upper part of body decrease , excitability of the cerebrum fall , and function of the cerebrum be improved , therefore , certain drugs for inducing emesis can be used to treat epilepsy and mania due to stagnation of phlegm.

2.Compatibility of Drugs and Prescriptions

(1).Brief Statement

Usage of more than two drugs together is called compatibility . Certain rules can be found in compatibility of drugs . In "Shennong's Pharmacopoeia " ,the relations of various drugs were summarized as seven types , that is , single drugs,mutual promotion,mutual support,weakening of toxicity,counteraction of toxicity by another drug,weakening of effect by another drug and enhancement of toxicity by another drug, which are called "seven consequences".

A.Going lonely : One drug performs effect lonely.
B.Needing each other : When two drugs with same nature and effect are used together, these drugs can produce synergy, and this enhance curative effect.
C.Being guide each other : When two drugs with different natures and effects are used together, these drugs can support each other, this enhance curative effect.
D.Restricting each other : When two drugs are used together,a drug can inhibit or lighten violence or toxicity of another drug.
E.Weakening each other : When two drugs are used together, a drug can lighten or eliminate intoxication or harmful reaction of another drug.
F.Taking aversion to each other : When two drugs are used together , these drugs can inhibit each other , and one drug can cause weakening or loss of effect of another drug.This is a kind of contraindication of compatibility of drugs.
G.Opposing each other : When two drugs are used together, deleterious effect occurs.This is a kind of contraindication of compatibility of drugs.

(2).Principle

When two drugs are used together , reaction of chemical components of the drugs takes place , and the two drugs show synergy , antagonism , detoxication and enhancement of toxicity,therefore, different relations of compatibility of the two drugs can form.

Going lonely : Only one drug performs its distinctive effect.

Needing each other : When two drugs with same direction of action but different ways of a action are used together , synergy can occur , and curative effects can be strengthened . Radix Ginseng can strengthen excitability of the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system , and Radix Astragali seu Hedysari can increase cAMP content in the blood . The ways of action are different , but the effects are identical,therefore,synergy occurs.

Being guide each other : When two drugs with different main effects are used together,the less important effect of a drug can strengthen the main effect of the other drug each other,thus causing strengthening of the main effects of two drugs . The main effect of the drug for invigorating vital energy , Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is increasing cAMP content in the blood ; the main effects of the drug for promoting diuresis , Poria are inhibiting reabsorption of sodium ion in the uriniferous tubules and promoting uropoiesis . In addition , Radix Astragali seu Hedysari also has the effect of promoting diuresis , while Poria also has the effect of exciting the sympathetic system.Therefore, after these two drugs are used together , both effects of invigorating vital energy ( that is,exciting the sympathetic system and increasing cAMP content in the blood) and promoting diuresis are strengthened.

Restricting each other : After two drugs are used together , reaction of chemical components contained by these drugs takes place , or antagonism of these drugs occurs , therefore , a drug can inhibit or lighten violence or toxicity of another drug. Rhizoma Zingibers Recens can lighten deleterious effects of Rhizoma Pinelliae and Rhizoma Arisaematis.

Weakening each other : When two drugs are used together , one of these drugs has the effect of detoxify , and it can lighten or eliminate the toxic symptom of another drug . Semen Phaseoli Aurei can relieve the toxic symptom of Fructus Crotonis . Radix Ledebouriellae can promote discharge of arsenic,therefore,it can eliminate intoxication of white arsenic (Arsenicum).

Taking aversion to each other : When two drugs are used together , occurrence of antagonism causes weakening or disappearing of effects of the drugs , Radix Trichosanthis has the effect of lowering metabolic rate of organism, while Rhizoma Zingiberis has the effect of raising metabolic rate of organism.The effects of these two drugs are contrary.Radix Ginseng has the effect of exciting the sympathetic system , while Semen Raphani has the effect of exciting the parasympathetic system and strengthening activity of the smooth muscle.The effects of these two drugs antagonize each other.

Opposing each other : When two drugs with toxicity are used together, or a drug with toxicity is used with another drug with contrary effect , stronger deleterious effects occur . Both Radix Aconiti and Rhizoma Pinelliae are toxic .When they are used together , the toxicity is stronger . Radix Euphorbiae Kansui has the effects of purging and promoting diuresis,and it is toxic, while Radix Glycyrrhizae has the effect of promoting retention of water and sodium.After the two drugs are used together , Radix Glycyrrhizae counteracts the effect of expelling water of Radix Euphorbiae Kansui and makes Radix Euphorbiae Kansui show toxic effect only.

[2].Incompatibility of Drugs

(1).Brief Statement

In relation of compatibility , " taking aversion to each other " and " opposing each other " belong to incompatibility of drugs , and the drugs can not be used together in prescriptions . The predecessors have summarized incompatibility of drugs as " opposition among eighteen drugs " and " aversion among nineteen drugs ".

A. Opposition among eighteen drugs :

Radix Aconiti opposes Rhizoma Pinelliae , Fructus Trichosanthis , Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii , Radix Ampelopsis and Rhizoma Bletillae ;
Radix Glycyrrhizae opposes Radix Knoxiae , Radix Euphorbiae Kansui , Sargassum and Flos Genkwa ;
Veratrum opposes Radix Ginseng , Radix Adenophorae Strictae , Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae , Radix Sophorae Flavescentis , Radix Scrophulariae , Herba Asari and Radix Paeoniae.

B.Aversion among nineteen drugs:

Sulfur dislikes sodium nitrite;
Mercury dislikes Arsenicum;
Radix Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae dislikes Lithargyrum;
Fructus Crotonis dislikes Semen Pharbitidis;
Flos Syzygii Aromatici dislikes Radix Curcumae;
Mirabilite dislikes Rhizoma Sparganii;
Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii and Radix Aconiti dislikes Cornu Rhinoceri;
Cortex Cinnamomi dislikes Halloysitum Rubrum.

(2).Principle

" Opposition of eighteen drugs " and " aversion of nineteen drugs " are summerized from medical practice , and these theories are of certain value for reference.

Radix Aconiti has the effect of increasing metabolic rate of organism , and it is toxic . Rhizoma Pinelliae also has the effect of increasing metabolic rate of organism , and it is also toxic. Therefore , if Radix Aconiti and Rhizoma Pinelliae are used together , the effect will be more violent, and the toxicity will rise . Fructus Trichosanthis , Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii, Radix Ampelopsis, Rhizoma Bletillae are nontoxic, and these drugs have the effect of lowering metabolic rate of organism. When these drugs are used with Radix Aconiti, they can counteract the effect of Radix Aconiti and make it show toxic effect only.

Radix Glycyrrhizae has the effect of promoting retention of water and sodium . Radix Knoxiae, Radix Euphorbiae Kansui and Flos Genkwa all have the effects of purging and promoting diuresis , and all these drugs are toxic . Sargassum has the effect of promoting diuresis . When Radix Glycyrrhizae is used with Radix Knoxiae , Radix Euphorbiae Kansui , Flos Genkwa or Sargassum , it may counteract their effect of promoting diuresis and make the three drugs ahead only show toxic effect.

Veratrum has the effects of inducing emesis and lowering blood pressure centrally , and it is toxic . Radix Ginseng has the effect of strengthening the functions of the heart and blood vessels . If Veratrum and Radix Ginseng are used together , the effect of Radix Ginseng will be weakened , and toxicity will emerge . Radix Adenophorae Strictae , Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae , Radix Sophorae Flavescentis , Radix Scrophulariae , Herba Asari and Radix Paeoniae all have the effect of lowering blood pressure. If these drugs are used with Veratrum , the effect of lowering blood pressure of Veratrum will be aggravated , and toxicity will rise.

Sulfur is toxic . Taking it orally can cause purgation . Sodium nitrite also has the effect of violent purgation . When these two drugs are used together, chemical reaction can take place , and toxicity can be aggravated .

Mercury contains hydrargyrum , and Arsenicum contains arsenic . When these two drugs are used together , arsenic trimercuride or diarsenic trimercuride can form , and toxicity rises .

Both Radix Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae and Lithargyrum can be used to eat phlegm-syndrome , but these two drugs are toxic. If they are usedtogether , toxicity will be more violent .

Both Fructus Crotonis and Semen Pharbitidis have the effect of iolently purging , and both drugs are toxic . If these two drugs are used together , the effect of rging will be more violent , and toxicity will rise .

Flos Syzygii Aromatici can increase bloodflow of the digestive system , while Radix Curcumae can decrease bloodflow of the digestive system . These two drugs show antagonism .

After being taken orally , Mirabilite forms hyperosmotic saline slution , which stimulates the mucous membrane of the intestinal canal of hyperperistalsis of the intestinal tract , thus causing diarrhea . Rhizoma Sparganii has the effect of promoting contraction of the smooth muscle in the digestive tract . If these two drugs are used together , the effect of purging will be more violent , and the harmful response will occur.

Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii and Radix Aconiti contain mesacontitine , therefore , these two drugs have toxic effect to the heart , and they can dilate the blood vessels . Cornu Rhinoceri have the effect of tonicizing the heart and dilating the blood vessels . If Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii and Radix Aconiti are used with Cornu Rhinoceri , it will cause dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels , and toxicity will rise.

Faeces Trogopterorum has the effect of dilating the blood vessels , relieving spasm of the smooth muscle , and accelerating flow of the blood . Radix Ginseng has the effect of tonicizing the heart and dilating the blood vessels . If these two drugs are used together , it will easily cause tendency of bleeding.

Halloysittum Rubrum has the effects of protecting the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and stopping bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract . Cortex Cinnamomi has the effects of dilating the blood vessels , and increasing bloodflow of the gastrointestinal tract . The effects of these two drugs antagonize each other . If these two drugs are used together , harmful response will occur.

As seen from the above analysis , " opposition among eighteen drugs " and " aversion among nineteen drugs " have certain scientific basis . Some experiments on animals have also proven this viewpoint.

However , in recent years , the works in check of literature , clinical application of drug and experiment of drug on animal indicate that " opposition among eighteen drugs " and " aversion among nineteen drugs " are not absolute incompatibility of drugs . Someone has made up prescriptions with the drugs which belong to " opposition among eighteen drugs " and " aversion among nineteen drugs " to treat chronic diseases and difficult and complicated diseases , gaining certain curative effects . However , these drugs are mostly toxic , therefore , these drugs must be used with caution , and dosage of these drugs must be mastered strictly.

[3].Composition of Prescriptions

(1).Brief Statement

Prescription is the recipe composed by choosing drugs , determine proper dosage and following certain principles of compatibility of drugs under guidance of the theories of Sinomedicine , on the basis of choosing methods of treatment according to differentiation of syndromes , and according to the need of state of diseases.

In tradition , composition of a prescription includes four parts , that is , monarch , minister , assistant and guide.

Monarch is the drugs which treat main syndrome and perform main effect in a prescription.

Minister is the drugs which assist the main drugs and strengthen the effect of the main drugs.

Assistant is the drugs which assist the main drugs to treat the auxiliary syndrome , or inhibit toxicity and violence of the main drugs , or assist the main drugs oppositely.

Guide is the drugs which guide various drugs to the region of pathological changes directly , or mediate various drugs .

(2).Principle

Composition of prescription in Sinomedicine has specific structure. The structure of prescriptions can adapt to the complicated syndromes.

Monarch is the drugs which treat main syndrome in prescription. It can consist of one drug or several drugs with same direction of action.

Minister is the drugs which have same direction of action but different ways of action with monarch. It can strengthen the effect of monarch.

Assistant is the drugs which treat less important syndrome, or lighten toxicity and over-violent effect of monarch , or have contrary nature to monarch.

Guide is the drugs which increase bloodflow of specific internal organ and make drugs act on this organ fully , or alleviate deleterious effect of various drugs .

3.Summary

Natures and functions of the drugs relate to the structures and biological effects of chemical components contained in the drugs.

The drugs with toxicity or violent biological effects are harmful to pregnancy , belonging to contraindication of drugs in pregnancy . Eating certain foods with specific drugs can influence curative effects of the drugs or cause harmful responses , belonging to contraindication of foods in drugs' taking.

Chinese materiae medica can be classified according to their effects and usages . The drugs in each class have common pharmacological characteristics.

The drugs can form many kinds of relations of compatibility . The principles of composition of prescriptions are enhancing effect , lightening toxicity , avoiding incompatibility of drugs , using natures ofmutual promotion or mutual inhibition in the drugs , and paying attentionto organic concert of the main drugs and auxiliary drugs.