Ten Major Formula Families in Chinese Medicine

黄煌Jiangsu Phoenix Science and Technology Press2010

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Word count
180K words
Chapters
13
ISBN
9787534573996

Tags

Health and Medicine Gender Relations 中医Traditional Chinese MedicineClinical PracticeClinical ApplicationFormularyFormula-Syndrome MatchClassical Formulas

Summary

Ten Major Formula Families in Chinese Medicine is an important work by Huang Huang, professor at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, on classical formulas and formula patterns. Rather than following the traditional method of listing formulas by efficacy or disease name, the book takes "classifying formulas by drug, naming patterns by formula" as its main thread, grouping commonly used clinical formula clusters into ten major families—cinnamon twig, ephedra, bupleurum, rhubarb, astragalus, gypsum, coptis, dried ginger, aconite, and pinellia—totaling 104 formulas, and explaining them layer by layer through "drug—formula—formula pattern—constitution." Each family first presents the drug pattern and corresponding constitutional features of its main drug, then introduces the family members one by one, comparing their compositional similarities and differences, dosage differences, and indications, grounding the principle of "drug pattern correspondence and formula pattern correspondence" in identifiable, operable specific conditions, and includes a disease-name index and a main-symptom index for clinical retrieval and comparison. In this revision, besides polishing the text, the recommended dosages, formula pattern explanations, and clinical application scope have been adjusted and supplemented, while maintaining the pattern of discussing both classical and later formulas. The language is accessible and is accompanied by entertaining cartoons sketching the outward features of formula patterns and constitutions.

Editor's review

方剂难记，是学中医的人共同的痛点：组成多、变化杂，背下歌诀也未必会用。黄煌这本书之所以能重印二十余次、并有日文、韩文、英文与中文繁体字版，正在于它给出了一个可以真正“抓住”的记忆结构——不是把104首方平铺并列，而是先按主药归成十大家族，再在家族内部横向比较。读者先看清桂枝证、麻黄证、柴胡证这些“母题”，再去看各成员的加减变化，记忆负担立刻减轻，临床选方的依据也变得具体：看体质、看指征，而不是凭印象套方名。全书贯穿“药证相应、方证相应”，把张仲景的语言转写成现代人能听懂的条件式表述，并配上寥寥数笔的体质漫画，抽象概念一下子有了画面。第3版还补充了推荐用量与临床应用解说，更贴近实际处方。对西医学习中医、中医院校学生和基层临床医生来说，这是一本可以放在诊桌边反复翻阅的入门与进阶书；对中医爱好者，它也是一条进入经方世界最省力的路径。

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Reading tips

  1. 先通读第1章桂枝类方，理解“药证—体质—方证”的三层结构，再按同一方法读其余九类。
  2. 每读一类方，用一张表格横向对比类方成员的组成差异与指征差异，比单纯背诵更有效。
  3. 与《伤寒论》《金匮要略》原文对照阅读，把书中归纳的方证逐条落回原文条文。
  4. 临床应用前务必在有资质医师指导下进行，本书是学习与参考用书，不能替代辨证诊疗。

About the publisher

Jiangsu Phoenix Science and Technology Press China · Founded in 1978

Jiangsu Science and Technology Press (now Jiangsu Phoenix Science and Technology Press) focuses on academic monographs in science and technology, applied science and technology books, science and technology textbooks, and popular science readers, while also publishing works on traditional culture and the humanities and social sciences. Its catalog shows a distinct strength in classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, and historical reading. Representative titles include Nalan Xingde's Nalan Ci (color-illustrated hardcover edition), Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian: Hereditary Houses, Wang Yangming's Instructions for Practical Living, Zeng Guofan's Family Letters, Hong Yingming's Caigentan, Lu Yu's The Classic of Tea, as well as Jiang Tingfu's Modern Chinese History and The Outdoor Survival Guide. Its author resources cover classic writers such as Nalan Xingde, Sima Qian, Wang Yangming, Zeng Guofan, and Jiang Tingfu, and include works licensed from Australia's Weldon Owen Publishing. Its publishing approach combines science and technology titles with Chinese classics and practical lifestyle books, balancing academic value with general reading needs.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1 Cinnamon Twig Family: cinnamon twig pattern, cinnamon twig constitution, Cinnamon Twig Decoction, Cinnamon Twig plus Magnolia Bark and Apricot Seed Decoction, Cinnamon Twig plus Astragalus Decoction, Newly Added Decoction, Cinnamon Twig plus Kudzu Decoction, Cinnamon Twig plus Aconite Decoction, Minor Constructing the Middle Decoction, Peony and Licorice Decoction, Astragalus Constructing the Middle Decoction, Angelica Constructing the Middle Decoction, Cinnamon Twig plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction, Angelica Four-Returning Decoction, Angelica Four-Returning plus Evodia and Fresh Ginger Decoction, Warming the Menses Decoction, Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction, Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes, and Licorice Decoction, Five Poria Powder, Cinnamon Twig and Poria Sweet Dew Drink, Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill, Cinnamon Twig, Peony, and Anemarrhena Decoction, etc.
  2. Chapter 2 Ephedra Family: ephedra pattern, ephedra constitution, Ephedra Decoction, Three Crude Decoction, Ephedra plus Atractylodes Decoction, Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction, Minor Green Dragon Decoction, Ephedra, Apricot, Gypsum, and Licorice Decoction, Yuebi plus Atractylodes Decoction, Yang Harmonizing Decoction
  3. Chapter 3 Bupleurum Family: bupleurum pattern, bupleurum belt, bupleurum constitution, Minor Bupleurum Decoction, Bupleurum and Coptis Decoction, Bupleurum and Magnolia Bark Decoction, Bupleurum and Poria Decoction, Bupleurum and Calm the Stomach Decoction, Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction, Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig, and Dried Ginger Decoction, Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction, Four-Returning Powder, Blood Mansion Stasis-Expelling Decoction, Free Wanderer Powder, Moutan and Gardenia Free Wanderer Powder, Major Bupleurum Decoction
  4. Chapter 4 Rhubarb Family: rhubarb pattern, rhubarb constitution, Major Qi-Ordering Decoction, Minor Qi-Ordering Decoction, Stomach-Regulating Qi-Ordering Decoction, Fluid-Increasing Qi-Ordering Decoction, Jade Candle Powder, Peach Pit Qi-Ordering Decoction, Rhubarb and Ground Beetle Pill, Blood-Stasis-Expelling Decoction, Capillary Wormwood Decoction, Ledebouriella Powder that Sagely Unblocks, Rhubarb and Aconite Decoction
  5. Chapter 5 Astragalus Family: astragalus pattern, astragalus constitution, Jade Wind-Barrier Powder, Stephania and Astragalus Decoction, Astragalus and Cinnamon Twig Five-Item Decoction, Astragalus Constructing the Middle Decoction, Center-Supplementing Qi-Boosting Decoction, Yang-Supplementing Five-Returning Decoction
  6. Chapter 6 Gypsum Family: gypsum pattern, White Tiger Decoction, White Tiger plus Ginseng Decoction, White Tiger plus Cinnamon Twig Decoction, Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction, Wind-Dispelling Powder
  7. Chapter 7 Coptis Family: coptis pattern, Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction, Warm and Clear Drink, Schizonepeta and Forsythia Decoction, yang-heat constitution, Coptis Decoction, Minor Chest-Cracking Decoction, Heart-Draining Decoction, Coptis and Donkey-Hide Gelatin Decoction, Costus and Coptis Pill, Left Metal Pill
  8. Chapter 8 Dried Ginger Family: dried ginger pattern, Rectifying the Middle Decoction (Ginseng Decoction), Aconite Rectifying the Middle Decoction, Coptis Rectifying the Middle Decoction, Cinnamon Twig Ginseng Decoction, Aurantium Rectifying the Middle Pill, Middle-Treating Decoction, Major Constructing the Middle Decoction, Licorice, Ginger, Poria, and Atractylodes Decoction
  9. Chapter 9 Aconite Family: aconite pattern, Four-Returning Decoction, yin-cold constitution, Four-Returning plus Ginseng Decoction, True Warrior Decoction, Aconite Heart-Draining Decoction
  10. Chapter 10 Pinellia Family: pinellia pattern, pinellia constitution, Minor Pinellia Decoction, Minor Pinellia plus Poria Decoction, Gallbladder-Warming Decoction, Coptis Gallbladder-Warming Decoction, Phlegm-Guiding Decoction, Ten-Item Gallbladder-Warming Decoction, Bamboo Shaving Gallbladder-Warming Decoction, Major Pinellia Decoction, Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction, Agastache Qi-Correcting Powder, Agastache, Magnolia Bark, Pinellia, and Poria Decoction, Pinellia, Atractylodes, and Gastrodia Decoction, Pinellia Heart-Draining Decoction
  11. Disease Name Index
  12. Main Symptom Index
  13. References

FAQ

这本书的“类方”是什么意思？ 类方指以一味或几味主要药物为核心、功效相近的一组方剂群体，如同一家族。书中把常用方归为桂枝、麻黄、柴胡等十类，通过家族内比较来把握各方证的异同，这是学习方剂的一种传统而高效的方法。
第3版和早期版本有什么不同？ 第3版在结构上保持十大类方、104首方剂的格局，同时润色文字，并对方剂的推荐用量、方证解释与临床应用范围作了改动和补充。若购买二手旧版，需注意用量与解说可能与新版有差异。
零基础的中医爱好者能读懂吗？ 书中语言浅显，配有漫画示意体质与方证特征，入门者可以大致读懂思路；但方证辨识涉及脉象、腹诊等专业内容，建议配合基础中医教材，并在医师指导下理解，不宜据以自行处方。
本书与《张仲景50味药证》有什么关系？ 两书同出黄煌之手，思路一脉相承：前者以50味药为纲讲药证，本书以十大类药物为纲讲方证。先读药证、再读类方，对“药证相应、方证相应”的理解会更完整。
本书有繁体版或外文版吗？ 据公开资料，本书除简体中文版外，还有中文繁体字版，以及日文版、韩文版和英文版等译本，英文版于2007年由美国东域出版社出版，在海外中医界有一定影响。

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About the author

黄煌 Author

Huang Huang is a well-known author in the field of classical formula (jingfang) studies in China. Public information about him is limited, and no clear records of his biography or nationality are available. Judging from the ten works held in the collection, his writing consistently centers on classical formulas, covering formula patterns, medical case records, applications across various specialties, and clinical insights. Huang Huang's Handbook of Classical Formula Usage has reached its fourth edition and is accompanied by a mnemonic handbook, reflecting a practical, tool-oriented approach designed for quick reference. My University: Huang Huang's Life with Classical Formulas records his journey of learning and applying these formulas from a personal perspective, giving the academic material a strong narrative warmth. Other titles, such as clinical talks and records of clinical practice, fall between monographs and essays; their language is plain and they focus on explaining formula-pattern correspondences clearly and systematically. The works commonly appear in medicine and examination categories, indicating that they serve both as clinical references and as study aids, making a practical contribution to the popularization and transmission of classical formula knowledge.