Effective Prescriptions from Generations of Physicians

危亦林Qunyan Publishing House · ChinaAug 2024

4.2

Word count: 347K words
Chapters: 22

Summary

Although this book covers the diagnosis, treatment, and prescriptions for diseases in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, the five sense organs, and orthopedics, its main achievement lies in orthopedics. It is the first to record spinal fractures, invented suspension reduction and external fixation methods, and developed “Caowu San” for use as a general anesthetic, marking new progress in drug anesthesia.

Editor's review

Shiyi Dexiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions for Generations of Physicians) is a traditional Chinese medical formulary compiled by Wei Yilin of the Yuan dynasty, here prepared and published by Qunyan Press. The book covers internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, the five sense organs, and orthopedics and traumatology, collecting both diseases and patterns and their treatments and formulas, with clinical practicality as its organizing principle. Its most highly regarded section in later ages is orthopedics and traumatology: the book records spinal fractures at a relatively early date and pioneered suspension reduction and external fixation, and it also used 'Caowu San' as a general anesthetic, reflecting the advances in surgery and anesthesia of the time. For today's readers, the book can serve both as reference material for formulas and treatments across clinical specialties in Chinese medicine and as an important text for examining the history of ancient orthopedics and traumatology and anesthesia. It should be read as a historical and clinical document, paying attention both to its formula experience and to differences from today in dosage, processing, and drug-safety conditions. It is suitable for desk reference by Chinese medicine specialists, medical history researchers, and readers interested in formula and orthopedic traditions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Chinese medicine clinical and formulary specialists, for consulting disease-pattern and formula materials across specialties
Researchers of Chinese medical history and literature, focusing on materials on orthopedics and the history of anesthesia
Orthopedic practitioners, for understanding the historical origins of traditional reduction and external fixation approaches
Enthusiasts of traditional culture who wish to engage systematically with ancient clinical formularies

Not a good fit for

General readers without medical training, for whom using the formulas directly carries risk
Those seeking modern emergency or orthopedic diagnostic and treatment standards, as the book cannot replace clinical guidelines
Readers wanting only light popular-science reading and lacking patience for the conventions of a formulary

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents and prefaces to understand the division by specialty, then read the orthopedics section according to interest
When excerpting formula content, note the original dosages and processing methods for easy comparison
For anesthesia and reduction techniques, read alongside works on medical history to understand their significance
Non-specialist readers should focus on understanding the scholarly history and not apply the book's formulas themselves

About the publisher

Qunyan Publishing House China · Founded in 1989

Founded in 1989, Qunyan Publishing House has long been committed to publishing academic and educational books for mid- and high-level readers, and has built up a certain presence in Eastern philosophy, classical literature, and classic works. Representative titles available in the database include Records of the Grand Historian, Dream of the Red Chamber, Selections of Refined Literature, Complete Song Ci, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Record of Daily Knowledge, Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang, and The Collected Works of Wang Yangming, covering common categories such as ancient poetry, medicine, and examinations. Its author resources include Sima Qian, Cao Xueqin, Xiao Tong, Li Shan, Pu Songling, and Gu Yanwu. The press also offers distinctive series such as the Biographical Series of the China Democratic League and the Historical Documents Series of the China Democratic League, and publishes research on historical documents, biographies, memoirs, and textbooks and academic works by League members. Public information is limited, and its overall publishing scale and complete catalogue require further verification.

版权信息
序
卷第一\大方脉杂医科
卷第二\大方脉杂医科
卷第三\大方脉杂医科
卷第四\大方脉杂医科
卷第五\大方脉杂医科
卷第六\大方脉杂医科
卷第七\大方脉杂医科
卷第八\大方脉杂医科
卷第九\大方脉杂医科
卷第十\大方脉杂医科
卷第十一\小方科
卷第十二\小方科
卷第十三\风科
卷第十四\产科兼妇人杂病科
卷第十五\产科兼妇人杂病科
卷第十六\眼科
卷第十七\口齿兼咽喉科
卷第十八\正骨兼金镞科
卷第十九\疮肿科
卷第二十\孙真人养生书（节文）

FAQ

In which specialty is the book's main contribution concentrated?

According to the materials, although the book covers internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, the five sense organs, and other specialties, its main achievement is in orthopedics and traumatology, including the first record of spinal fractures, the invention of suspension reduction and external fixation, and the development of 'Caowu San' as a general anesthetic.

Can general readers use the formulas in the book to treat themselves?

Not recommended. This is an ancient formulary, and dosages, processing, and treatment conditions differ greatly from today, while anesthesia and orthopedic procedures carry high risks. General readers should read it as medical history and literature; actual medication must follow a physician's advice.

What background is needed to read this book?

Readers with basic knowledge of Chinese medicine theory, formulas, and clinical specialties will find it easier to follow. Those familiar only with modern medicine may first learn Chinese medicine disease-pattern names and formulary conventions, then read key chapters such as orthopedics.

Comments

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About the author

危亦林 Author

Wei Yilin is a physician who left an important work in the history of ancient Chinese medicine, yet details of his life are very limited in publicly available sources: his birthplace, dates of birth and death, and medical training cannot be reliably verified. What can be confirmed is that he wrote Shiyi Dexiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions for Generations of Physicians), a medical work represented by three entries in this collection, which indicates its significance. Judging from its title and transmission, the book is a practical clinical formulary that gathers proven prescriptions from various specialties and arranges them by disease and syndrome, making them easy for physicians to consult in practice. It reflects a writing approach that values practical efficacy and close relevance to clinical use. Formularies of this kind helped preserve experience and spread treatment methods in the transmission of Chinese medicine, and Wei Yilin is known to later generations through this book. Given the scarcity of historical records, other details of his life should not be conjectured; readers seeking to understand his scholarship should return to the text of Shiyi Dexiao Fang itself.