Reaching meridian is the important component of TCM theory. The ancients explained the reaching meridian via connecting five Zang and six Fu, twelve meridians and collaterals through the ascription of five colors, five flavors and five elements. According to the integrated analysis of herbal effect which result from the herbal compatibility and the application of reaching meridian herbs and guiding meridian herbs, some characteristics are demonstrated in the following.
1. Specificity: some herbs have evident tendency, they do not change their effect according to the variety of compatibility dosage when they act on one certain Zang or Fu, they have specificity.
2. Selectivity: some herbs have various function, they can enter diverse meridians synchronously and become effective, meanwhile, they may focus on one Zang or Fu according to the variety of compatibility dosage.
3. Increasing or shifting the function of reaching meridian: through processing, the herbs’ function of reaching meridian can be strengthened.
4. Guiding meridian: it is also called “extra conducting ingredientsâ€, which is messenger herb, it has the function of guiding other herbs’ strength to get to the target place.
5. Other function: some herbs have strong pungent scent, we choose appropriate guiding meridian herbs such as Da Zao, Hong Tang (red sugar), Bing Tang (rock candy) etc, adding these herbs to prescription, the pungent scent could be mitigated, it can avoid the vomiting after taking the decoction.
Key words: herbs, reaching meridian, guiding meridian, characteristics and application
Writer: Zishan Yang
TCM department, people’s hospital, Yang Chun city, Guangdong province (529600)
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