Syndromes treatment principles

Composing a formula is a process where several conditions must be fulfilled. First, one must make a clear syndrome differentiation, establish the treatment principles, select treatment methods and figure out the most suitable strategies. One should then follow the model of formula structure, selecting appropriate herbs to play specific roles in the formula and ensuring that treatment strategies are fully expressed. 

Following the treatment principle, which is established in accordance with the syndrome differentiation, a formula can be composed. A formula is neither a group of herbs that treat all symptoms nor a combination that only treats the main syndrome. It has a structure where herbs are organized in order to meet the needs of the treatment. The structure of a formula contains four parts, namely the chief, the deputy, the assistant(s) and the envoy. Each of these has specific functions in the formula. 

Next, an appropriate treatment principle to treat the presenting syndrome is established. For example, to treat an excess heat syndrome in the Lung, the treatment principle is to reduce the heat, nourish the Yin, regulate the Lung-Qi and, at a later stage, strengthen the Lung-Qi. 

As soon as a treatment principle is established, the composition plan and treatment strategies can be arranged. For instance, to treat the syndrome of excess heat in the Lung and Stomach, one would first prescribe herbs that have sweet-cold, bitter-cold or salty-cold properties, and which have the functions of clearing heat and reducing fire in the Lung and Stomach. Second, herbs that are sweet and cold and that can nourish body fluids and protect the Yin, which has been severely consumed by the excess heat, should be selected. Herbs that can tonify the Qi should be selected if the Qi is weakened severely by the heat. Herbs that moderate the actions of the harsh herbs in the formula, and reduce their side effects, should also be added. 

In the diagnosis, the syndrome of dampness can be divided into damp-cold syndrome and damp-heat syndrome, which are decided by constitution and dietary habit of the individual, as well as the nature of the pathogenic factors. The treatment principles and the strategies of composing formulas are quite different in these two types. For clarity, these two syndromes are discussed separately. 

As a teacher and practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine, I have searched for a new way of studying, teaching and practicing. In this book, I have aimed to summarize from a large number of formulas the basic rules which inform treatment principles and composition strategies. I hope by training practitioners to follow these principles and use these strategies that they will be able to select appropriate herbs independently and to compose individualized formulas to treat various syndromes. 

In the sections Associated disorders in western medicine, some disease names are mentioned. However, it should be borne in mind that a disease in western medicine may involve more than one syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine. As such, the diseases mentioned here are only intended to help the reader to understand the syndrome and to have some corresponding orientation in western medicine. The principles, methods and strategies introduced in each chapter of this book are abstracted from a large number of formulas, integrating the knowledge of single herbs, herbal combinations, syndrome differentiation, treatment methods and treatment sequence. They are the essential part of this book. 

Formulas that drain downwards are, in principle, not suitable for patients who suffer from exterior syndromes. It is better first to treat the exterior condition and then to drain downwards. Otherwise, the treatment may lead the exogenous factors into the deeper regions of the body. 

---