Essentials of Materia Medica cover

Essentials of Materia Medica

Rating 4.4
Word count
138K words
Chapters
488

Tags

Summary

Medicine begins with the Inner Canon, and materia medica with the Shennong Bencao Jing. The properties of drugs are but one aspect of medicine; yet since their life-giving or lethal effects can turn in the palm of a hand, they are no trifling matter, and thus they too are treated with the same caution as thunder. Examining their properties, correcting their uses, broadening their number, and detailing their meanings, through tens and hundreds of schools, there should surely be nothing left unexplored—yet each has its own particular strength. To find one whose wording is elegant and refined, whose meaning is comprehensive and clear, neither too brief nor too elaborate, and whose form is well measured—such a work is rarely seen.

Editor's review

Bencao Beiyao is an introductory work on materia medica compiled by the Qing dynasty physician Wu Yiluo, who substantially expanded and revised Wang Ang's work of the same title. Taking practicality as its guiding principle, the book systematically sets out each drug's nature and flavor, channel tropism, actions, indications, and usage, striving for refined and lucid language that neither piles up cumbersome textual scholarship nor lapses into sketchy mnemonics. Its value lies in restoring materia medica knowledge to the context of clinical prescribing, emphasizing the examination of drug properties and the correction of their uses, and helping readers build a way of thinking that matches drug properties to patterns of syndrome. This new edition presents the material in a clean, concise format and is suitable as a reader for the transition from beginner to systematic study. It may be read alongside source texts such as the Inner Canon and the Shennong Bencao Jing, with attention to the book's cautions on drug contraindications and processing points; one should not simply memorize lists of actions while ignoring the prerequisite of pattern differentiation.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers new to Chinese medicine who wish to gain a systematic understanding of the properties, flavors, and actions of commonly used Chinese drugs
  • Students at Chinese medicine colleges and universities using it as a supplementary reader in materia medica
  • Clinical practitioners consulting traditional usage and contraindications of commonly used drugs
  • General enthusiasts interested in traditional materia medica literature

Not a good fit for

  • General readers expecting to prescribe for themselves directly from the book
  • Researchers seeking only modern pharmacological experimental data
  • Specialists needing detailed illustrated processing procedures

Reading tips

  1. First read through the table of contents to grasp the classificatory framework, then closely read each category by action chapter and take notes
  2. For each drug, compare the original text in the Shennong Bencao Jing and commonly used clinical formulas to deepen understanding
  3. Make separate excerpts of contraindications and compatibility entries to form a personal checklist of prescribing cautions
  4. Review what has been read once a week, reorganizing it by nature and flavor or by channel tropism

About the publisher

Tibet People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1971

Tibet People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for collating Tibetan and Chinese ancient texts and publishing traditional culture. Judging from the books in its catalogue, its publishing focuses on medicine, Eastern philosophy, classics, and ancient poetry. It offers traditional Chinese medical and health-preserving works such as the Compendium of Materia Medica, Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold, and Principles of Correct Diet, as well as canonical and philosophical texts including the Book of Changes, Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Annotated Edition of the Erya, and Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals, along with historical and geographical works such as The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores. Its authors include figures such as Li Shizhen, Sun Simiao, King Wen of Zhou, Zuo Qiuming, Guo Pu, Dong Zhongshu, Hu Sihui, and Ma Huan. The house emphasizes the collation and republication of ancient texts, balancing scholarship and accessibility, and has developed its own strengths in transmitting Tibetan and Chinese cultural classics. Public information is limited, so other publishing details are omitted here.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 陈序
  3. 童序
  4. 自序
  5. 增补本草备要自序
  6. 本草备要凡例
  7. 药性总义
  8. 黄
  9. 甘草
  10. 人参
  11. 沙参
  12. 丹参
  13. 元参
  14. 白术
  15. 苍术
  16. 葳蕤
  17. 黄精
  18. 狗脊
  19. 石斛
  20. 远志
  21. 石菖蒲
  22. 牛膝
  23. 甘菊花
  24. 五味子
  25. 天门冬
  26. 麦门冬
  27. 款冬花
  28. 紫菀
  29. 旋复花
  30. 百部
  31. 桔梗
  32. 荠
  33. 马兜铃
  34. 白前
  35. 白芨
  36. 半夏
  37. 天南星
  38. 贝母
  39. 栝楼仁
  40. 天花粉
  41. 夏枯草
  42. 海藻
  43. 海带
  44. 昆布
  45. 独活
  46. 羌活
  47. 防风
  48. 本
  49. 葛根
  50. 升麻
  51. 白芷
  52. 细辛
  53. 柴胡
  54. 前胡
  55. 麻黄
  56. 荆芥
  57. 连翘
  58. 紫苏
  59. 薄荷
  60. 鸡苏
  61. 木贼
  62. 浮萍
  63. 苍耳子
  64. 天麻
  65. 秦艽
  66. 草
  67. 威灵仙
  68. 钓藤钩
  69. 茵芋
  70. 当归
  71. 芎
  72. 白芍药
  73. 生地黄
  74. 干地黄
  75. 熟地黄
  76. 何首乌
  77. 牡丹皮
  78. 续断
  79. 骨碎补
  80. 益母草
  81. 泽兰
  82. 白薇
  83. 艾叶
  84. 延胡索
  85. 红花
  86. 茜草
  87. 紫草
  88. 凌霄花
  89. 大小蓟
  90. 三七
  91. 地榆
  92. 蒲黄
  93. 卷柏
  94. 茹
  95. 庵子
  96. 郁金
  97. 姜黄
  98. 蓬莪术
  99. 荆三棱
  100. 白茅根
  101. 芦根
  102. 苎根
  103. 蔷薇根
  104. 芭蕉根
  105. 大黄
  106. 黄芩
  107. 黄连
  108. 胡黄连
  109. 苦参
  110. 知母
  111. 龙胆草
  112. 青黛
  113. 大青
  114. 牵牛
  115. 防己
  116. 葶苈
  117. 甘遂
  118. 大戟
  119. 商陆
  120. 芫花
  121. 荛花
  122. 泽漆
  123. 常山
  124. 藜芦
  125. 木通
  126. 通草
  127. 泽泻
  128. 车前草
  129. 灯草
  130. 瞿麦
  131. 蓄
  132. 天仙藤
  133. 地肤子
  134. 石韦
  135. 海金砂
  136. 茵陈
  137. 香薷
  138. 青蒿
  139. 附子
  140. 草乌头
  141. 白附子
  142. 破故纸
  143. 肉苁蓉
  144. 锁阳
  145. 巴戟天
  146. 胡卢巴
  147. 仙茅
  148. 淫羊藿
  149. 蛇床子
  150. 菟丝子
  151. 复盆子
  152. 蒺藜子
  153. 使君子
  154. 益智子
  155. 砂仁
  156. 白豆蔻
  157. 肉豆蔻
  158. 草豆蔻
  159. 香附
  160. 木香
  161. 藿香
  162. 茴香
  163. 甘松香
  164. 山柰
  165. 高良姜
  166. 荜茇
  167. 烟草
  168. 金银花
  169. 蒲公英
  170. 紫花地丁
  171. 杜牛膝
  172. 鹤虱
  173. 山豆根
  174. 牛蒡子
  175. 山慈菇
  176. 漏芦
  177. 贯众
  178. 射干
  179. 续随子
  180. 马蔺子
  181. 蓖麻子
  182. 白头翁
  183. 王瓜
  184. 王不留行
  185. 冬葵子
  186. 白藓皮
  187. 萆
  188. 土茯苓
  189. 白蔹
  190. 预知子
  191. 旱莲草
  192. 刘寄奴草
  193. 马鞭草
  194. 谷精草
  195. 青葙子
  196. 决明子
  197. 蓼实
  198. 马勃
  199. 木鳖子
  200. 茯苓
  201. 茯神
  202. 琥珀
  203. 松节
  204. 柏子仁
  205. 侧柏叶
  206. 肉桂
  207. 桂心
  208. 桂枝
  209. 枸杞子
  210. 地骨皮
  211. 山茱萸
  212. 酸枣仁
  213. 杜仲
  214. 女贞子
  215. 楮实
  216. 桑白皮
  217. 桑寄生
  218. 栀子
  219. 猪苓
  220. 黄柏
  221. 枳实、枳壳
  222. 浓朴
  223. 槟榔
  224. 大腹皮
  225. 槐实
  226. 苦楝子
  227. 蔓荆子
  228. 石南叶
  229. 辛夷
  230. 郁李仁
  231. 金樱子
  232. 诃子
  233. 乌药
  234. 五加皮
  235. 椿樗白皮
  236. 榆白皮
  237. 秦皮
  238. 海桐皮
  239. 蕤仁
  240. 密蒙花
  241. 芙蓉花
  242. 山茶花
  243. 木槿
  244. 杉木
  245. 乌臼木
  246. 水杨柳
  247. 皂角
  248. 肥皂荚
  249. 棕榈
  250. 茶
  251. 吴茱萸
  252. 川椒
  253. 胡椒
  254. 苏木
  255. 沉香
  256. 檀香
  257. 紫檀
  258. 降真香
  259. 丁香
  260. 乳香
  261. 没药
  262. 枫脂香
  263. 冰片
  264. 樟脑
  265. 苏合香
  266. 血竭
  267. 阿魏
  268. 芦荟
  269. 胡桐泪
  270. 芜夷
  271. 没石子
  272. 卫矛
  273. 漆
  274. 巴豆
  275. 大风子
  276. 荆沥
  277. 竹沥
  278. 竹茹
  279. 淡竹叶
  280. 天竹黄
  281. 雷丸
  282. 赤柽柳
  283. 大枣
  284. 桃仁
  285. 杏仁
  286. 乌梅
  287. 栗
  288. 陈皮
  289. 青皮
  290. 柿干
  291. 木瓜
  292. 山查
  293. 梨
  294. 枇杷叶
  295. 橄榄
  296. 白果
  297. 石榴皮
  298. 枳子
  299. 胡桃
  300. 龙眼肉
  301. 荔枝核
  302. 榧实
  303. 海松子
  304. 落花生
  305. 莲子
  306. 莲蕊须
  307. 藕
  308. 荷叶
  309. 芡实
  310. 甘蔗
  311. 荸荠
  312. 菱
  313. 西瓜
  314. 粳米
  315. 糯米
  316. 谷芽
  317. 大麦芽
  318. 小麦
  319. 稷
  320. 粟
  321. 荞麦
  322. 黑大豆
  323. 赤小豆
  324. 绿豆
  325. 白扁豆
  326. 淡豆豉
  327. 刀豆
  328. 胡麻
  329. 大麻仁
  330. 薏苡仁
  331. 御米壳
  332. 神曲
  333. 红曲
  334. 醋
  335. 酒
  336. 韭
  337. 葱
  338. 大蒜
  339. 薤
  340. 胡荽
  341. 生姜
  342. 干姜、黑姜
  343. 山药
  344. 百合
  345. 莱菔
  346. 白芥子
  347. 蔓菁子
  348. 芸薹
  349. 马齿苋
  350. 甜瓜蒂
  351. 冬瓜
  352. 丝瓜
  353. 茄根
  354. 金
  355. 银
  356. 铜绿
  357. 自然铜
  358. 铅
  359. 铁
  360. 密陀僧
  361. 丹砂
  362. 水银
  363. 轻粉
  364. 空青
  365. 云母
  366. 石膏
  367. 滑石
  368. 朴硝、芒硝
  369. 元明粉
  370. 太阴玄精石
  371. 赤石脂
  372. 禹余粮
  373. 浮石
  374. 硼砂
  375. 砂
  376. 磁石
  377. 礞石
  378. 代赭石
  379. 花蕊石
  380. 炉甘石
  381. 阳起石
  382. 钟乳
  383. 白石英
  384. 紫石英
  385. 雄黄
  386. 石硫黄
  387. 石蟹
  388. 无名异
  389. 石
  390. 砒石
  391. 石灰
  392. 白矾
  393. 胆矾
  394. 皂矾
  395. 青盐
  396. 食盐
  397. 急流水
  398. 逆流回澜水
  399. 甘澜水
  400. 井泉水
  401. 百沸汤
  402. 阴阳水
  403. 黄荠水
  404. 露水
  405. 腊雪水
  406. 冰
  407. 地浆
  408. 孩儿茶
  409. 百草霜
  410. 墨
  411. 伏龙肝
  412. 碱
  413. 鸡
  414. 乌骨鸡
  415. 鸭
  416. 五灵脂
  417. 夜明砂
  418. 猪肉
  419. 犬肉
  420. 羊肉
  421. 羊血
  422. 牛肉
  423. 牛黄
  424. 白马溺
  425. 驴溺
  426. 阿胶
  427. 黄明胶
  428. 虎骨
  429. 犀角
  430. 羚羊角
  431. 鹿茸
  432. 麝香
  433. 熊胆
  434. 象皮
  435. 獭肝
  436. 皮
  437. 兔矢
  438. 鼠矢
  439. 龙骨
  440. 龙齿
  441. 鲤鱼
  442. 鲫鱼
  443. 石首鱼
  444. 青鱼胆
  445. 鳢鱼胆
  446. 鳝鱼
  447. 鳗鲡
  448. 蚺蛇胆
  449. 白花蛇
  450. 乌梢蛇
  451. 蛇蜕
  452. 海狗肾
  453. 穿山甲
  454. 海螵蛸
  455. 龟板
  456. 鳖甲
  457. 蟹
  458. 虾
  459. 牡蛎
  460. 蛤粉
  461. 瓦楞子
  462. 田螺
  463. 石决明
  464. 真珠
  465. 蛤蚧
  466. 蜂蜜
  467. 露蜂房
  468. 僵蚕
  469. 原蚕砂
  470. 桑螵蛸
  471. 蝉蜕
  472. 五倍子
  473. 白蜡
  474. 斑蝥
  475. 蝎
  476. 蜈蚣
  477. 蟾蜍
  478. 白颈蚯蚓
  479. 五谷虫
  480. 发
  481. 人牙
  482. 人乳
  483. 紫河车
  484. 童便
  485. 秋石
  486. 人中黄
  487. 粪清
  488. 人中白

FAQ

Can I read Bencao Beiyao without a foundation in Chinese medicine?
Yes, but it is advisable first to grasp basic concepts such as yin and yang, the zang-fu organs, and cold-heat deficiency-excess; otherwise it is easy to memorize action entries as isolated facts. It can be read alongside a textbook of basic Chinese medicine theory, looking up unfamiliar terms before reading on; there is no need to understand everything in one pass.
Can the drug usages in the book still be applied directly today?
The book reflects traditional materia medica knowledge and prescribing experience and has documentary and conceptual value, but dosages, processing, and indications must be judged in light of modern standards. General readers should not formulate and take medicines on its basis, and professional learners should also consult current pharmacopoeias and clinical guidelines, using the book as a reference for understanding traditional prescribing logic.
Is this book suitable for reading straight through from cover to cover?
It can be read straight through, but category-by-category close reading is more effective. It is advisable to begin with commonly used categories such as exterior-releasing, heat-clearing, and supplementing, to establish a basic framework, and then gradually extend to other chapters. In reading straight through, focus on understanding the structure and the approach to pattern differentiation rather than reciting every entry, so as not to lose the main points amid dense information.

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About the author

吴仪洛 Author

Wu Yilu's life, birthplace, and other biographical details are sparsely documented in publicly available sources; his name is known to later generations chiefly through four extant medical works. Judging from these works, he devoted sustained effort to compiling and organizing materia medica and formula literature. His representative works include Bencao Beiyao (Essentials of Materia Medica), Bencao Congxin (A New Compilation of Materia Medica), and Chengfang Qieyong (Practical Applications of Established Formulas). The first two belong to the materia medica genre, focusing on the nature, flavor, and clinical uses of drugs; the latter is a formula book that selects commonly used prescriptions, classifies them, and provides explanations for easy consultation and application. These works are known for their practical selection of material and clear organization, making them suitable for beginners and practicing physicians, and they have exerted a certain influence on the popularization and transmission of knowledge about Chinese materia medica and formulas. Owing to a lack of historical records, his dates, teachers, and medical career cannot be verified, and this introduction summarizes his scholarly orientation only on the basis of the works in the collection and confirmable bibliographic information.