本草備要

The work compiles a concise practical materia medica that selects a few hundred commonly used herbs, describing each item’s nature, taste, color, meridian entry, therapeutic functions, contraindications, and processing methods. It sets out theoretical principles linking flavors, colors and preparation to organ channels and yin‑yang dynamics, explains combination rules and mutual antagonisms, and offers guidance on pattern‑based selection, dosing and sourcing. Individual entries blend pharmacological notes, diagnostic hints and example formulas to help practitioners match remedies to clinical presentations and avoid misuse.