China's earliest pharmacological work is Shennong's Herbal Classic, also known as Herbal Classic or Benjing. Written in the name of Shennong, it was actually written in the Han Dynasty and is one of the four classic works of traditional Chinese medicine. Legend originated from Shennong and was handed down from generation to generation. It was compiled into a book in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The book was not written in a moment, and the author was not alone. Many medical scientists in Qin and Han dynasties collected, summarized and sorted out the monographs on pharmaceutical experience at that time, which was the first book in China to systematically summarize traditional Chinese medicine.
Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica is divided into three volumes, containing 365 kinds of drugs. It is divided into three categories: upper, middle and lower, and its conciseness has become the essence of Chinese medicine theory. Shennong Herbal Classic records the curative effects of 365 kinds of drugs, most of which are true and reliable, and are still commonly used in clinic. It puts forward the idea of dialectical medication, and the number of drugs that can adapt to diseases can reach more than 170, with specific provisions on dosage and time, which also plays a foundation role in traditional Chinese medicine.
China's Ancient Pharmaceutical Works
Huangdi Neijing, compiled during the Warring States Period, is the earliest extant classic of TCM theory in China. This paper systematically expounds the anatomy, physiology, pathology, health preservation, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Difficult Classics is another important medical work after Huangdi Neijing. It creatively put forward the discussion of "taking one inch alone" and related strange classics in the form of questions and answers, including human physiology, pathology, meridians, acupuncture, diagnosis and treatment.
Shennong Herbal Classic is the first pharmaceutical monograph in China. Written in the Han Dynasty, it contains 365 kinds of traditional Chinese medicines. Ephedra relieving asthma, Coptis stopping dysentery, rhubarb relaxing bowels and Changshan stopping malaria recorded in this book are not only the earliest records in medical history, but also still used in traditional Chinese medicine. Treatise on Febrile Diseases: During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing creatively integrated theory, methods and prescriptions with many prescriptions.