Medicinal substances are combined to:- increase therapeutic effectiveness by synergy
- reduce toxicity or adverse reactions
- accommodate complex clinical situations
- alter the actions of the substances.
A typical Chinese herbal formula usually comprises the following
components:^154
- The main ingredient, which treats the main disease
- The associate ingredient, which assists the main ingredient
- The adjuvant, which acts as an enhancer of the main ingredient, and
moderates or eliminates the toxicity of other ingredients; it may also
have an opposite effect to the main ingredient to produce
supplementary benefits - The guide ingredient (or envoy), which focuses the actions of the
formula on certain meridians or areas of the body, or harmonises and
integrates the actions of the other ingredients.
154 | Traditional medicine
Figure 6.7 Loose herb display.