Huangdi Neijing is the earliest extant theoretical work of traditional Chinese medicine. In the process of summarizing and expounding the basic theoretical problems of TCM, it applied and developed China's inherent theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, and took it as the guiding ideology, forming a unique and complete theoretical system of TCM with extremely rich contents. A series of basic problems such as physiology, pathology, pharmacology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, and health preservation are comprehensively expounded. , covering all aspects of TCM theory, methods, prescriptions and drugs, thus making an indelible contribution to the establishment of TCM theory. This book * * * discusses 189 diseases (including internal medicine 120, surgery14, gynecology10, five senses 17) and 32/kloc-0. The Chinese medicine treatment methods described in it are very complete, involving stone needles, acupuncture, moxibustion, soup, liquid medicine, mashing, pills, ointment, bathing, ironing, fumigation, steaming, thin sticking, massage, guidance, qi circulation, surgery and emotional therapy.

The compilation of Huangdi Neijing marks a new stage of Chinese medicine from empirical medicine to theoretical medicine. This is a holistic view.

The contradictory view, the theory of viscera and meridians, the theory of etiology and pathogenesis, the theory of health preservation and disease prevention, and the principle of diagnosis and treatment have laid the theoretical foundation of traditional Chinese medicine. Without it, there would be no Chinese medicine. The continuous enrichment and development of Chinese medicine in later generations can not be separated from the theoretical basis and framework of Huangdi Neijing. For example, another medical treatise, Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion A and B, written by Huangfu Mi in the Eastern Han Dynasty, is basically based on Huangdi Neijing in discussing human physiology and pathology. Zhang Zhongjing's theory of differentiation of six meridians, which was founded in Treatise on Febrile Diseases, also originated from Huangdi Neijing. Generally speaking, many basic medical viewpoints of traditional Chinese medicine come from Huangdi Neijing.

Although Huangdi Neijing is a medical work, it is rich in content and covers a wide range, involving astronomy, geography, meteorology, phenology, calendar, luck, philosophy and other disciplines, so some people say it can be called an encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine. Of course, this statement is somewhat exaggerated, but it also reflects that Huangdi Neijing occupies an important position in the history of science and technology in China.