The research of revision on herb properties in Shaoxing Ben cao

Shaoxing Bencao, wrote by WANG Jixian in South Song dynasty ( 1159), is a classic Chinese medicine book which aims to revise herb properties described in former literature. There are 371 items in the book evaluating herb properties recorded in books about herbs. Keeping those he thought right,correcting those he thought wrong, complementing those missed and selecting better ones from those with disputes. He revised herb properties in 50.9% of all the items. Herb properties were evaluated mainly according to records and clinical practice with emphasis on property-effect ( effect and adverse effect) relationship. Logical deduction was also used to deduce herb toxicity and quality according to herb flavor, nature, tastes and their growing environment. The book described in detail the influence of processing on the herb properties and toxicity. The evaluation methods in this book are of reference value for learning about the formation of knowledge of herb properties. Key words: Wang Ji-ian; Shaoxing Bencao; Properties and flavor of herb