Foundations of TCM

  • Yin-Yang Theory
  • Five Elements Theory
  • Meridians & Acupoints
  • Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids
  • Zang-Fu Organs

A Discussion on the Scientific Methods of Epidemic Prevention in the “Compendium of Materia Medica” and the Publishing Challenges Faced by Li Shizhen

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A Discussion on the Scientific Methods of Epidemic Prevention in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" and the Publishing Challenges Faced by Li Shizhen

In the current battle against the COVID-19 pandemic in China, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has played a significant role. The TCM classic, the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), compiled over 500 years ago, documented many effective methods for disaster and epidemic prevention. In terms of air disinfection, burning substances such as Chen … Read more

Yan Peng and Hu Yunkai: Li Shizhen Completed the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ in Pengxi County, Sichuan

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Yan Peng and Hu Yunkai: Li Shizhen Completed the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' in Pengxi County, Sichuan

The Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) is the most significant achievement of the renowned Ming dynasty physician and pharmacologist Li Shizhen. It is a monumental work that encapsulates his lifelong learning and is a comprehensive compilation of earlier materia medica texts. Its influence has lasted for over 400 years, holding an important … Read more

Understanding the Compendium of Materia Medica

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Understanding the Compendium of Materia Medica

“If Hua Tuo were to be reborn, he would treat foreign visitors who come to learn Chinese characters and promote national consciousness.” This familiar melody plays, let me see, who is dancing the “Jianzi dance”? This internet-famous song is Jay Chou’s “Compendium of Materia Medica”. But do you know what the real “Compendium of Materia … Read more

The Story of Famous Physicians: The Origin of the Compendium of Materia Medica (Part Two)

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The Story of Famous Physicians: The Origin of the Compendium of Materia Medica (Part Two)

The Story of Famous Physicians The medicinal substances recorded in the medical book “Bencao” (本草) were originally passed down from Shennong, totaling only three hundred sixty-five types. During the Liang Dynasty, Tao Hongjing added three hundred sixty-five more, bringing the total to seven hundred thirty types. In the Tang Dynasty, Su Gong added one hundred … Read more

The Truth Behind the Criticism of the Compendium of Materia Medica

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The Truth Behind the Criticism of the Compendium of Materia Medica

In the Ming Dynasty, the physician Li Shizhen spent nearly thirty years compiling the classic TCM text, the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), which has been published for over 400 years and has received high acclaim from renowned scholars both domestically and internationally. However, it has recently faced criticism online due to … Read more

The Classic Masterpiece | The Great Medical Text of the East: Compendium of Materia Medica

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The Classic Masterpiece | The Great Medical Text of the East: Compendium of Materia Medica

The Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu), a classic materia medica work, consists of 52 volumes. It was authored by Li Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty, from the 31st year of the Jiajing era (1552) to the 6th year of the Wanli era (1578), with the manuscript undergoing three revisions. This book is organized in … Read more

Weekend Digest | The Timeless Materia Medica

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Weekend Digest | The Timeless Materia Medica

Click the blue text Follow us The term “Materia Medica” first appeared in the Book of Han by Ban Gu during the Eastern Han Dynasty, stating: “… all dismissed, the diviners, envoys, assistants, and over seventy Materia Medica officials all returned home.” Here, the term “Materia Medica” refers to medicines and prescriptions, hence later generations … Read more

The Contributions of the Compendium of Materia Medica to Zhang Zhongjing’s Theories

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The Contributions of the Compendium of Materia Medica to Zhang Zhongjing's Theories

Li Shizhen was a great medical scientist of the Ming Dynasty in China. His greatest contribution was his extensive research and compilation, which took thirty years and involved studying over eight hundred medical texts, resulting in the creation of the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica). Although this book is primarily a pharmacological … Read more

The Publication and Impact of the Jinling Edition of the Compendium of Materia Medica

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The Publication and Impact of the Jinling Edition of the Compendium of Materia Medica

The great pharmacologist of the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen, after “thirty years of experience and studying over eight hundred families, with three revisions of the manuscript,” finally compiled the unprecedented and practically needed monumental work of materia medica, the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica). However, the publication and printing of this work … Read more

The Enigma of Chinese Medicine: The Regrets of “Bencao Gangmu” and the Lost Miraculous Herbs in History

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The Enigma of Chinese Medicine: The Regrets of "Bencao Gangmu" and the Lost Miraculous Herbs in History

A historical coincidence or mistake often leaves behind irreparable errors, untraceable truths, or perplexing enigmas for future generations… To practice medicine or to be an official? That is the question. Those familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or Chinese history should know about the book “Bencao Gangmu” and its author, Li Shizhen. The lost herb … Read more