Elaborations on Classical Formulas

Name: Elaborations on Classical Formulas
ISBN: 9787513293471

赵明锐 / 赵树胆China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine · ChinaJun 2025

4.2

Word count: 101K words
Chapters: 186
ISBN: 9787513293471

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Summary

The term “classical formulas” (jingfang) has been used since ancient times, though its meaning has varied. Today it generally refers to the formulas in Zhang Zhongjing’s Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases. Works such as Cao Yingfu’s Records of Experiments with Classical Formulas and Zhao Mingrui’s Elaborations on Classical Formulas are examples. Mr. Zhao Mingrui, a native of Shanxi, studied Zhang Zhongjing’s learning and was skilled in using his formulas. I am very fond of his Elaborations on Classical Formulas. In my early years, when I assisted my teacher in revising Translation and Explanation of the Treatise on Cold Damage, I read it and cited it; rereading it now, I am deeply impressed. Elaborations on Classical Formulas covers 40 formulas from the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases, used to treat more than a hundred diseases and patterns, and presents 131 medical cases. Though only about 130,000 characters long, it is rich in content; reading it opens new perspectives, and it truly lives up to the name “elaborations.”

Editor's review

Elaborations on Classical Formulas takes the formulas of the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases as its subject, covering forty classical formulas, over a hundred diseases and patterns, and more than 130 medical cases. It is modest in length but dense in content. Mr. Zhao Mingrui studied Zhang Zhongjing’s learning and was skilled in using his formulas. The book’s value lies not in line-by-line annotation of the original text but in the word “elaborations”: it places classical formulas within specific diseases, patterns, and cases to show how they are modified and how their indications are expanded. For readers already familiar with the formula-pattern passages of the Treatise on Cold Damage who hope to break through in clinical thinking, this approach of using formulas to present cases and cases to verify formulas is highly instructive. At about 130,000 characters, it is also well suited as a desk reference to browse repeatedly; it need not be read in one sitting and can be consulted by formula or disease pattern. When reading, I recommend comparing it with the original formula-pattern passages, noting under what diagnostic premises the author expands the uses of classical formulas, and avoiding memorizing only the formulas and drugs while ignoring the premises.

Who it's for

A good fit for

TCM clinicians seeking to expand their approaches to using classical formulas in specific diseases and patterns
Students at TCM colleges who have studied the formula-pattern passages of the Treatise on Cold Damage and need clinical case support
Enthusiasts of classical formulas who like to study by comparing medical cases with formula-pattern passages
Primary-care TCM physicians looking for reference on modifications of classical formulas for common diseases and patterns

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners with no TCM foundation encountering classical formulas for the first time
Readers seeking modern evidence-based medical evidence and standardized treatment protocols

Reading tips

First read through the table of contents, select cases corresponding to formulas you know, then gradually expand.
When reading a case, compare it with the original formula-pattern passage in the Treatise on Cold Damage and identify where the author’s elaboration lies.
Keep a notebook recording the modification patterns and diagnostic premises of the same formula across different diseases and patterns.

About the publisher

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine China · Founded in 1989

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on publishing books in traditional Chinese medicine, covering Chinese medical classics, clinical medicine, acupuncture and tuina, materia medica and formulae, and medical history and literature; its catalogue includes 3,277 titles. Representative books include Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue, Shang Han Lun, Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu, Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, Yi Zong Jin Jian, and Guo Aichun's Annotated Huangdi Neijing Suwen (Second Edition). These works involve writings by historical physicians such as Qian Yi, Zhang Zhongjing, Wang Shuhe, and Zhang Xichun, as well as documentary studies compiled by contemporary authors including Zhao Xin, Zhen Xueyan, Zhang Yongtai, and Wang Xiangang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the press emphasizes collation and annotation of original Chinese medical classics and the systematic presentation of famous physicians' works, balancing the transmission of ancient editions with reference for clinical application. Public information is limited, and no other publishing fields are covered here.

版权信息
著者简介
黄序
重版序
日文版序
初版序
第一章桃核承气汤
第一节肩痛
第二节酒渣鼻
第三节顽癣
第四节瘾疹
第五节胬肉攀睛
第六节血淋
第七节经期发狂
结语
第二章黄土汤
第一节胃出血（属虚寒者）
第二节崩漏（属虚寒者）
第三节虚寒吐衄
第四节紫癜（属虚寒者）
结语
第三章小柴胡汤
第一节斜视（视物倾斜）、复视
第二节头痛（属少阳经）
第三节腰腿痛（属少阳经部位者）
第四节头晕头痛（因外伤引起者）
第五节呕逆
第六节真心痛
第七节胁痛
第八节胸肋痛（肋软骨炎）
第九节月经不调
第十节半身疼痛麻木
结语
第四章五苓散
第一节悬饮
第二节腹胀
第三节水肿（肾病综合征）
第四节水逆
结语
第五章猪苓汤
第一节淋秘
第二节尿血
第三节小便不禁
结语
第六章乌梅丸
第一节噤口痢
第二节吐酸吞酸
第三节寒泄
第四节阴阳易
结语
第七章真武汤
第一节水肿（属肾阳虚者）
第二节水肿（属脾肾阳虚者）
第三节白带（属虚寒者）
结语
第八章侯氏黑散
结语
第九章苦参汤
第十章三物黄芩汤
结语
第十一章芍药甘草汤
第一节筋痿
第二节抽搐（属伤津者）
第三节腹痛
结语
第十二章桂枝汤
第一节自汗（卫气不和）
第二节项背强痛
第三节妊娠恶阻
第四节痢疾（有表证者）
结语
第十三章桂枝茯苓丸合当归芍药散
第一节痛经
第二节崩漏
第三节癥块
第四节腹痛（放置节育环引起）
结语
第十四章桂枝芍药知母汤
关节痛
结语
第十五章桂枝新加汤
第一节身痛（属气血虚者）
第二节腰痛（属虚劳者）
第三节拘挛
结语
第十六章桂枝加葛根汤
第一节项背强急（外感引起者）
第二节颈项强急（颈椎骨质增生）
结语
第十七章小建中汤
第一节腹痛（属虚寒者）
第二节胃痛（属虚寒者）
第三节腹胀（属虚寒者）
结语
第十八章桂枝甘草龙骨牡蛎汤
第一节惊悸
第二节遗精
第三节失眠
第十九章瓜蒌桂枝汤
小儿惊风
结语
第二十章茯苓桂枝白术甘草汤
眩晕
结语
第二十一章大承气汤
第一节喘证（属实热者）
第二节头痛（属实热者）
第三节目不了了
第四节暴发火眼
第五节痢疾
第六节宿食
结语
第二十二章厚朴七物汤
第一节腹满（属虚寒者）
第二节气胀
第三节腹胀（属湿热蕴积）
结语
第二十三章小陷胸汤
【附】肝硬化案
【附】慢性肝炎案
结语
第二十四章大黄附子汤
肋下痛（属胆囊炎）
结语
第二十五章泻心汤
第一节吐血、衄血、咯血
第二节逆经
第三节头晕头痛
结语
第二十六章甘草泻心汤
第一节脏躁
第二节癫痫
第三节口糜
结语
第二十七章黄连阿胶汤
第一节心中烦（属重证者）
第二节心中烦（属轻证者）
第三节失眠
结语
第二十八章葛根芩连汤
第一节下利（表里同病）
第二节婴幼儿消化不良腹泻
结语
第二十九章栀子豉汤
第一节虚烦懊憹
第二节胸满（属胸中窒塞者）
结语
第三十章苦酒汤
第三十一章麻黄细辛附子汤
第一节感冒（属阳虚者）
第二节痛痹（属阳虚感寒者）
结语
第三十二章麻黄加术汤
第一节行痹
第二节湿痹
结语
第三十三章越婢加术汤
结语
第三十四章吴茱萸汤
第一节呕吐（属胃寒者）
第二节头痛
结语
第三十五章薏苡附子败酱散
第一节肠痈（阑尾炎）
第二节鹅掌风和肌肤甲错
第三节右少腹痛
结语
第三十六章甘草干姜汤
第一节吐涎沫
第二节小便失禁
第三十七章鳖甲煎丸
结语
第三十八章防己黄芪汤
第一节水肿（慢性肾炎及肾病综合征）
第二节带下
第三节湿痹
结语
第三十九章十枣汤
第一节水肿（急性肾炎）
第二节水鼓（肝硬化腹水）
结语
第四十章薯蓣丸
结语
附录1 探索“岁火太过”与太阳黑子
附录2 人体阴阳与太阳辐射初探
附录3 著者与经方

FAQ

Can I understand this book without having studied the Treatise on Cold Damage?

It will be quite difficult. The book revolves around Zhang Zhongjing’s formulas and involves formula-patterns, pattern differentiation, and modification and application, assuming a basic familiarity with classical formulas. If you have had no exposure to the Treatise on Cold Damage at all, I suggest first reading a textbook or introductory explanation, then coming to the case sections of this book; understanding will be smoother.

Can the medical cases in the book be copied directly for use?

Direct copying is not recommended. The cases demonstrate prescribing thinking under specific diagnostic premises; the same formula is used differently across diseases, patterns, and constitutions. The focus should be on how the author determines the diagnostic premises and how he modifies the formula, not on memorizing that a certain formula treats a certain disease. Clinical prescribing still requires pattern differentiation based on the specific condition.

The book is not long—is the content too superficial?

It is about 130,000 characters, but covers forty classical formulas, over a hundred diseases and patterns, and more than 130 medical cases, so the information density is not low. Its characteristic is explaining formulas through cases and elaborating on their uses, rather than providing detailed line-by-line annotation of the original text. For readers with a foundation in classical formulas, its brevity makes it easier to browse and consult repeatedly.

Comments

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About the author

赵明锐 Author

Zhao Mingrui: public information is limited, and the only work currently confirmed is Jingfang Fahui (Elaborations on Classical Formulas), a medical title. Judging from the title, the book centers on "classical formulas," generally referring to canonical prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine, and the author explains their application and development, reflecting an approach grounded in traditional medical literature and focused on the practical use of prescriptions. Because the available records contain no further personal details, Zhao's nationality, dates of birth and death, educational background, and medical career cannot be verified and should not be guessed. At present, understanding of Zhao Mingrui rests mainly on this medical work; readers seeking to grasp the author's scholarly profile should begin with the subject matter and content of Jingfang Fahui rather than rely on unconfirmed biographical material.

赵树胆 Author · China

Zhao Shudan is a Chinese author about whom limited public information is available. What is known is that his representative work is Jingfang Fahui (Elaborations on Classical Formula), a book classified under medicine. Based on the available information, Zhao Shudan's writing centers on jingfang, the traditional Chinese medical formula system, and belongs to the practical genre aimed at medical readers rather than literary or popular writing. The title Jingfang Fahui suggests that the author focuses on explicating and applying classical formulas, discussing their clinical use and the reasoning behind variations, which reflects an approach that values the classics and stresses practicality. Because only one of his works is held in the collection, details such as his dates of birth and death, native place, education, and medical career cannot be verified, and a full picture of his life is difficult to present. For general readers, Zhao Shudan's name is mainly associated with this medical work; further materials would be needed to assess his academic standing and influence.