Guest guest Posted August 7, 2004 Report Share Posted August 7, 2004 , wrote: > attached some brief notes on the herbs taught in herbs 1 at PCOM. The > information is meant to be the basis for discussing herb actions in > relation to temperature, taste and channel. this was inspired by > Yang's comparisons and characteristics text, but adapted to Bensky's > listed attributes. While not denying that herbs are used in certain > classical combinations to enhance, accentuate, antagonize or counteract > each other, I was speculating if most or all of an herbs functions > could be simply explained as inherent properties of the herb based upon > taste and temp. Feel free to comment. We have to question what came first: 1. single herb functions (or indications), or 2. a systematic classification of herbs by taste and temperature If the taste and temperature are part of a later theoretical model derived from the functions (or indications) themselves, then of course the functions would seem to be explained by the taste and temperature. I am not sure as to which came first, though. It would seem like functions (or indications) came first, but that does not mean that is how it happened. Brian C. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2004 Report Share Posted August 7, 2004 , " bcataiji " <bcaom@c...> wrote: > > We have to question what came first: > 1. single herb functions (or indications), or > 2. a systematic classification of herbs by taste and temperature > I think indications came first. this herb relieves pain. this herb promotes menses. etc. functions and tastes and temp are all part of theory use to explain the indications. I think all that came later. If by function, you refer to ideas like sooth liver, supplement qi. The oldest book we have on herbs, the shen nong ben cao jing links all three at this stage. this trend is followed in the mat med lit of the first millenium. channels came later, for sure. books earlier than the shen nong like ma wang dui texts and few others either discuss only indications or refer to demonological explanations of function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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