“本草附方”现象及其意义

Exploring the Phenomenon of“Attaching Formulas to Materia Medica”and Its Significance

"本草附方"是指古代本草典籍中常在所载药物后附以含其药味组成的方剂。在追溯"本草附方"发展源流的基础上,从方效-药效关系的角度,提出"本草附方"的意义在于促进中药配伍运用和"举方证效"。"举方证效"即通过已知成方的功效来佐证单味药的功效,易致对中药功效认识的泛化,这可能是导致目前中药学中的中药功效既有源自单味使用经验,也有源自配伍运用认识的主要原因。厘清中药单味或配伍条件下的不同功效有利于临床中合理运用中药,有必要开展单味中药功效与其配伍功效比较方面的研究。

"Attaching formulas to material medica"refers to the phenomenon that the Chinese medicinal herbs in the material medical classics are usually followed by the formulas which contain this certain herb.By tracing the development history and considering the relationship between the formula effect and the herbal effect,the value of"attaching formulas to material medica"is mainly to promote the combination of medicinal herbs as well as to"demonstrate the herbal effect through established formulas".As the effects of established formulas are referred to,the effect of a herb contains not only the experience accumulation of single herb use,but also the effect of this herb when combined with other herbs in a certain formula,leading to the generalization of the herbal function.Therefore,it is critical to clarify the different effect of a herb when used alone or combined with other drugs in a formula;and further comparative researches are needed to promote the rational use of Chinese herbal medicine.