Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica is the earliest monograph on pharmacology in China. Before Li Shizhen published Compendium of Materia Medica, it was always regarded as the most authoritative medical work. As one of the four classic works of traditional Chinese medicine, it originated from Shennong and was handed down from generation to generation. It was assembled into a book in the Eastern Han Dynasty, which was China's first book systematically summarizing TCM.
Shennong's Herbal Classic systematically summarizes the experience of ancient physicians in drug use, and comprehensively and systematically sorts out the drug knowledge that has been mastered. The book contains 365 kinds of drugs, which is consistent with 365 days a year. This is not a coincidence, but the result of the author's intention.
Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica also contains rich and profound drug theories, which lays a theoretical framework for pharmacology. This part is mainly found in the preface, which is equivalent to the general introduction of the book. Although the text is not long, with only 13 articles, it has covered all aspects of pharmacology.
The Academic Value of Shennong Herbal Classic
The historical position of Shennong Herbal Classic cannot be underestimated. It systematically summarizes the scattered pharmaceutical knowledge before the Eastern Han Dynasty, and contains many contents with scientific value, which are cherished by doctors in past dynasties. And it has long been used as a compilation style of pharmaceutical works. As the first monograph on pharmacology in China, its influence is far-reaching.
The publication of Ben Jing has a great influence on the development of pharmacy in China, such as Notes to the Classic of Materia Medica, Newly Revised Materia Medica, Materia Medica with Syndromes, and Compendium of Materia Medica, all of which originated from Ben Jing and developed. The relationship between drugs is also a key to pharmacy, and the principle of "seven emotions and harmony" put forward in Benjing has played a huge role in the practice of medication for thousands of years.
For a long time, Classic was a textbook for yohji yamamoto to study Chinese medicine, or as a required book, it was placed in a very important position. The book describes the positioning and functional indications of drugs very accurately, and most of the pharmaceutical theories and compatibility rules stipulated in the book.