"Shen Nong's Materia Medica", also known as "Ben Cao Jing" or "Ben Jing", is one of the four classic works of traditional Chinese medicine. As the earliest existing traditional Chinese medicine work, it originated from Shennong's family and has been passed down orally from generation to generation. , collected and compiled into a book during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The book was not written at one time, and the author was not one person. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, many medical scientists collected, summarized, and organized the pharmacological experience and results of that time. This is the first systematic summary of Chinese traditional medicine. Most of the TCM theories and compatibility rules stipulated in it, as well as the principle of "harmony of the seven emotions" proposed in it, have played a huge role in thousands of years of medication practice and are the source of the development of TCM pharmacology theory.
The Shennong's Materia Medica is divided into three volumes, containing 365 kinds of medicines. It is divided into upper, middle and lower grades according to the three-grade classification method. The text is simple and simple, which has become the essence of traditional Chinese medicine theory.
In August 2015, the English and French translation of "The Complete Shennong's Materia Medica" was published by Foreign Languages ??Press. The translators and annotators of this book, Andre and his wife, are experts with considerable research experience in Sinology. They have translated and published many books on Chinese traditional culture. The famous flower-and-bird painter Mr. Liu Jingzeng has created many species images that have never been touched before in this book, which greatly increases the species of traditional flower-and-bird paintings and has important reference value for the practice of new species painting. The paintings in this book are not limited to shadows and appearances, and break through the constraints of medicinal specimen paintings since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The painting contains a large amount of poetry, historical materials and other ancient Chinese cultural information related to this species. Readers can savor the thought-provoking and wonderful pictures.
Content introduction
"Shen Nong's Materia Medica" systematically summarizes the various aspects of drug use experience of ancient doctors and other parties, and conducts a comprehensive and systematic arrangement of the drug knowledge that has been mastered. A total of 365 kinds of medicines are included in the book, which coincides with the 365 days of the year. This is not a coincidence, but the result of the author's intention. In fact, the number of medicines mastered at that time far exceeded this number, but due to the influence of the idea of ??magic numbers, 365 kinds of medicines were selected. "The law is three hundred and sixty-five degrees, and one day should be one day to make one year old."
"Shen Nong's Materia Medica" not only collected drugs, but also consciously classified the collected drugs, dividing 365 kinds of drugs into three categories: upper, middle and lower, which is called It is the "three-category classification method". The classification is mainly based on the performance and efficacy of the drug.
"The Preface to the Classic" says: "One hundred and twenty kinds of medicines are used to nourish life and respond to heaven. They are non-toxic and will not hurt people if taken for a long time," such as ginseng and licorice. , Rehmannia glutinosa, jujube, etc.; "One hundred and twenty kinds of traditional Chinese medicine are ministers, mainly nourishing and responding to people. They are non-toxic and toxic, so consider the appropriateness." It is necessary to distinguish the properties of the medicine before use, such as lily, angelica, longan, coptis, ephedra, Angelica dahuricae, skullcap, etc.; "One hundred and twenty five kinds of medicines are used as auxiliary agents. They mainly treat diseases and respond to the ground. They are many poisons and should not be taken for a long time.", such as rhubarb, aconite, kansui, croton, etc.
"Shen Nong's Materia Medica" also contains rich and profound drug theories, thus laying the theoretical framework of pharmacology. The content of this part is mainly found in the preface, which is equivalent to the general introduction of the book. Although the text is not long, with only thirteen articles, it covers all aspects of pharmacology.
Taking drug compatibility as an example, "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" puts forward the principle of formulating prescriptions in which the emperor, his ministers and his envoys should assist each other. The so-called monarchs, ministers and assistants are originally members of different classes in society, with different functions and levels. Materia Medica borrows this term to explain the different roles of medicines in compatibility. For example, top-grade medicines are monarch medicines, middle-grade medicines are ministerial medicines, and low-grade medicines are The medicine is an adjuvant medicine. When formulating a prescription, the characteristics of the drug should be fully considered. The prescription should include both monarch and ministerial drugs, as well as auxiliary drugs that can assist. The proportion can be handled according to the principle of one monarch, two ministers, three assistants, and five envoys, or one monarch, three ministers, and nine assistants.
In drug compatibility, two or more drugs used in one prescription will have different reactions with each other: some drugs can exert greater effects when used together. When two drugs meet, one of them will reduce the potency of the other; some drugs can limit the toxicity of the other drug; some two drugs themselves are non-toxic, but if the two drugs meet, they will produce great toxicity and cannot Same use etc. In "Shen Nong's Materia Medica", *** summarized seven types of relationships, including single line, mutual beard, mutual support, mutual fear, mutual hatred, opposition, mutual killing, etc. It is believed that these "seven emotions" should be "integrated and treated" , this is the compatibility principle of "seven emotions in harmony".
"Shen Nong's Materia Medica" briefly records and describes the efficacy and main diseases of various drugs included in it. This is undoubtedly a summary of valuable experience in early clinical pharmacy. Long-term clinical practice and modern research have proven that most of the understanding of the efficacy of the drugs contained in the "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" is correct. Many of the drugs are still widely used in clinical practice, such as ginseng tonic, coptis for dysentery, ephedra for asthma, and Changshan. Cures malaria, rhubarb and diarrhea, etc. Moreover, the types of diseases treated by various drugs are also very wide, with more than 170 kinds, including internal, external, gynecological, pediatric, facial and other diseases. In addition, "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" covers the nature and taste of drugs, their origin, collection and processing methods, as well as the principles and methods of medication, which greatly enriches the knowledge system of pharmacology.
Contents of handwritten Chinese classics: Shennong’s Materia Medica