The present study investigates the Traditional Oriental Medical practice of prescribing combined formulas and the notion underlying it that formulas, rather than individual medicinal agents, are the basis for treatment. The study compares the thinking and prescription characteristics of combined formulas of Chinese medicine on the one hand and Japanese Kampo medicine on the other, taking account of the modern Japanese experience in the use of concentrated preparations. We hope that this study can serve as a theoretical basis and practical reference for the use of combined formulas in the modern practice of prescribing ready-prepared formulas.
The results reveal that Chinese medical clinicians mostly use combined formulas to treat diseases with complex pathomechanisms and often modify the formula composition and dosage to reflect thinking on complex formulas embodying multiple methods of treatment. Kampo medical clinicians emphasize a “formula for syndrome” approach that focuses on the differentiating syndromes and abdominal signs to be treated with certain formula. They use combined formulas to target complex syndromes and keep the set formula composition and dosage closely related to the new targeted syndrome of combined formula. However, the “formula for syndrome” theory in Kampo medicine oversimplifies the traditional concept of “pattern identification as the basis for determining treatment.” Combined formula composition in Chinese medicine is ultimately based on the thinking of pattern identification according to pathomechanisms that are characterized by various systems and multiple levels.
