WHAT ARE CHINESE PRESCRIPTIONS?

Chinese prescriptions refer to medicines produced by mixing different raw medicines that treat certain diseases and symptoms effectively. These prescriptions are based on Chinese medical science, which was well-developed 2,000 years ago. Being high-performing medicinal preparations, they differ from simple treatments of the civil communities both academically and traditionally. The prescription of Chinese medicines aimed at curing a specific disease must have a fixed composition, which may not be altered at will.

Being different from western medical science, the types of Chinese medicine prescribed for common influenza are entirely different from what a western physician would prescribe. For instance, the early symptoms of chilling, headache, and fever without perspiration, with the body in seemingly good condition with regards to energy is considered to be Pueraariae disease. On the other hand, pyrexia, headache, chilling and coughing without perspiration is considered Shrubby disease. These names are derived from the names of the corresponding Chinese prescriptions.

Next, I am going to explain briefly the diagnostic techniques in Chinese prescriptions. First of all, in Chinese prescriptions, a disease is not diagnosed as in western medical science. The patient’s evidence of suffering is identified to decide on the most appropriate treatment. The patient’s strength and physique are used to determine the nature of his or her disease. Four types of symptom complexes corresponding to four possible types of derangement in vital energy balance exist. Classifying the patient’s disease according to these four types is an important step in deciding on the most suitable Chinese medicine.

These complexes are:

Positive Symptom Complex (Yang Evidence) – The symptoms are active and can easily be observed externally; for instance, faster pulse beats, fever, headache, muscle pains, dry throat, continuous coughing with influenza

Negative Symptom Complex (Yin Evidence) – Being the opposite of the yang symptoms, the body in this symptom complex is tired, and the symptoms are much less severe

Insufficiency Symptom Complex (Xu Evidence) – In this complex the basic problem is an insufficiency of energy; body parts which are weak should be used to diagnose the disease

Excessiveness Symptom Complex (Shi Evidence) – Contrary to Xu evidence, this complex is characterized by excesses of energy; the portions of the body that show greatest change or activity should be used as the basis for diagnosis

Another set of factors to be considered in diagnosis are three elements whose natural functions in the body of the patient may be disrupted or hindered, thus causing disease. These three elements are Air, Blood and Water. The following are examples of symptoms pertaining to hindrances of these three elements:

1. Hindrance of Air: headache, dizziness, rapid heart rate, hysteria, neurasthenia

2. Hindrance of Blood: bleeding, coarse skin, spots, pale lips, menoxenia, melena

3. Hindrance of Water: diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, swelling, tinnitus, hyperhidrosis, polyuria, cough

Diagnosis and prescriptions are then made from observation (visual examination,) detection (listening to the cough or manner of respiration,) inquiries (questioning of the patient about the symptoms,) and touching (palpation of the pulse or abdomen with the fingers,) and so on. The basic concept of Chinese prescriptions is the saying that if there s a good match between the evidence identified by the Chinese physician and the their prescriptions, the illness can be cured.

Moreover, there is a common impression that Chinese prescriptions are unable to cure acute diseases. This is in fact yet another misunderstanding of Chinese medicine. In ancient Chinese medical technology, a monograph entitled "Treatise on Febrile Disease" explained in detail the treatment for acute febrile contagious diseases, such as influenza and other diseases characterized by fever. I would like to discuss this concept here as a brief supplement.

It is easy to understand that the main components of Tian Xian Liquid are effective for all the functions of the body by knowledge of their individual effects. The undisclosed component comprising 5% of the formula is responsible for the direct removal of cancer cells from the body.

Let us leave the main topic for a moment. You may all be aware of the five-element theory in China, which is an old concept that has been traced back to ancient times. It is based on the belief that everything in the universe is composed of the five primary elements of nature, namely metal, wood, fire, and earth. The relationships between these five objects are responsible for keeping the universe in a state of equilibrium.

The relationships between these elements are unique, and are of two kinds. The first is that of generation – this type of relationship demonstrates how one element is created from another. For instance, by burning wood, fire is formed, and wood, when turned to ash, is transformed into earth. The second form of relationship is that of restriction, that is, how one element may dominate over another. Thus wood dominates earth in order to grow, while earth dominates water, and water dominates fire.

The five elements theory is adaptable to the human body. The relationships among the five elements can be applied to the body when these elements are represented by certain organ systems. The main components of Tian Xian Liquid are applicable to these relationships. They are:

Generative Relationships

Wood Promotes Fire: If the liver and gall improve, the heart and intestines also improve

Fire Promotes Earth: If the heart and intestines improve, the spleen and stomach also improve

Earth Promotes Metal: If the spleen and stomach improve, the lung and colon also improve

Metal Promotes Water: If the lung and colon improve, the kidneys and bladder also improve

Water Promotes Wood: If the kidneys and bladder improve, the liver and gall also improve

Restrictive Relationships

Wood Inhibits Earth: If the liver and gall deteriorate, the spleen and stomach also deteriorate

Earth Inhibits Water: If the spleen and stomach deteriorate, the kidneys and bladder also deteriorate

Water Inhibits Fire: If the kidneys and bladder deteriorate, the heart and intestines also deteriorate

Fire Inhibits Metal: If the heart and intestines deteriorate, the lungs and colon also deteriorate

Metal Inhibits Wood: If the lungs and colon deteriorate, the liver and gall also deteriorate