Precision Prescription medicines

It will be observed that to most of the herbs are ascribed double or multiple medicinal actions. Which particular virtue comes to the fore in actual application depends largely on the other agents with which it is combined. Thus, the alterative properties of a herb may be more pronounced in one combination, while in a different prescription its value as a diuretic might become more operative. In the effective allocation of his various medicinal agents to meet precise individual requirements lies an important department of the work of the skilled prescribing herbalist. 

The prescription is the means by which medicines that are not considered safe for sale directly to the public are delivered to patients. Its format is officially regulated to ensure precision in the interests of safety... 

Designing catalysts to satisfy process needs is like writing prescriptions to cure illnesses. We hope that the procedure is accurate and successful and try to base it on scientific method. Yet in practice, it is the skill of the practitioner, whose background, knowledge, experience, and awareness of "what has worked in the past" usually prevails. Nevertheless, in catalysis as well as medicine, we continually strive to improve the precision of the design process beyond mere copying of recipes. 

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