The combination of two or more drugs is called compatibility. Traditional Chinese medicine is made into a prescription for clinical use. The purpose of compatibility is to make drugs play a better role and stop adverse reactions, while more complex syndromes can be treated comprehensively.

Some drugs with similar properties, such as Cortex Phellodendri and Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, promote each other's curative effect after being used together, which is called "phase beard". The combination of two or more drugs with different effects can make the curative effect better, which is called "mutual promotion", such as coltsfoot flower and almond. When two drugs are used together, one drug is inhibited by the other drug, which is enough to reduce or eliminate its toxicity or strength, which is called "mutual fear", such as Pinellia ternata fearing ginger. One drug can inhibit the curative effect of another drug, which is called "mutual evil", such as ginger and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. One drug can eliminate the toxic reaction of another drug, which is called "killing each other", such as mung bean killing croton poison. The combination of the two drugs can cause serious side effects, which are called "antithesis", such as aconite against Pinellia ternata. Opposition and opposition are incompatible. Recently, however, it has been reported that proper use of opposite drugs can turn "taboo" into "excitement", thus achieving unexpected effects on some intractable diseases, but further research is needed.

Although most drugs are used in combination, a few drugs are used alone, which is called "single line", such as Shen Du decoction and Glycyrrhiza decoction.

Contraindications to drugs

Contraindications to pregnancy: Some drugs have the disadvantages of abortion and abortion. However, in these drugs, the harm to pregnancy is also different to some extent, which can be divided into two categories: forbidden and careful use. Most of the banned drugs are highly toxic, such as croton, Petunia, Euphorbia, Phytolacca acinosa, Rhizoma Sparganii, Rhizoma Curcumae, Leech and Musk. Be careful with drugs including peach kernel, safflower, rhubarb, immature bitter orange, aconite, cinnamon and so on. Drugs used with caution should not be used absolutely, but should be considered according to the needs of the disease and the situation of pregnant women.

Contraindication: It is usually called "contraindication". Traditionally, licorice, platycodon grandiflorum and ebony avoid eating pork, Ophiopogon japonicus avoid eating crucian carp and Poria avoid vinegar. For patients, it is more important to avoid cold, sticky and indigestible food. As for skin diseases and exogenous cough, eating yellow croaker, seafood and bamboo shoots in the early stage is a dietary taboo and has little to do with Chinese medicine. The traditional Chinese medicine that I saved was eaten by insects, but its efficacy was only the part eaten by insects. Chinese medicine can still be eaten if moths and their egg droppings are removed. As for traditional Chinese medicine, once it is moldy, it will deteriorate and be harmful after taking it. No matter how expensive it is, it is better to throw it away.

Toxic drugs: Traditional Chinese medicines, such as arsenolite, nux vomica and Datura flower, are generally known toxic drugs, so use them with caution. However, some traditional Chinese medicines are not toxic, and they will be poisoned if used too much. For example, bitter almonds can produce toxic substances such as hydrocyanic acid. If adults take 50-60 capsules and children take 7- 10 capsules, it will be life-threatening. Another example is Dioscorea bulbifera, which is often used to treat thyroid diseases. If you use 30 grams, it may be toxic to the liver, leading to jaundice and liver function damage.