Shanghan Zabing Lun Research Articles

Comparison of the contents of kampo decoctions containing ephedra herb when prepared simply or by re-boiling according to the traditional theory

Herbal formulas containing ephedra herb (mao-zai) are among the most important medicinal prescriptions in Japanese traditional kampo medicine to treat cold symptoms, bronchial asthma, arthralgia, and rheumatism. Shokan-zatsubyo-ron (Shanghan zabing lun in Chinese), a classical textbook of kampo medicine published in 220 A.D., describes that when herbal formulas containing ephedra herb (stem of Ephedra sinica) such as maoto (mahuang-tang) and kakkonto (gegen-tang) are prepared, ephedra herb is first boiled alone, the scum is removed, and then other crude drugs are added and decocted. In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of boiling ephedra herb prior to other crude drugs by analyzing the contents of the extract and four ephedrine alkaloids (ephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and norephedrine), which are considered the main active ingredients in ephedra herb. We prepared two different decoctions of maoto and kakkonto: one decoction was prepared by boiling all the crude drugs at the same time and the other decoction was prepared according to the classical textbook. In both decoctions of maoto and kakkonto, neither alkaloid contents in the extract nor extracting ratio of four ephedrine alkaloids exhibited significant difference. As far as the ephedrine alkaloid content goes, there is no evidence for the benefit of the boiling method for ephedra herb described in the classical textbook of kampo medicine.

Textual research on the hypothesis of Zhang Zhong-jing "being the governor of Changsha"

It was always a historical disputed case on the hypothesis of Zhang Zhong-jing, a famous doctor in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 A.D.), was once the governor of Changsha. Based on large amount of studies on archival materials combining with unearthed relics, it can be fully ascertained that Zhang Zhongjing had been the governor of Changsha with his tenure in the year of Jian'an 7th to 10th or 12th year, ie, from 202 A.D. to 205 or 207. During this period, Zhang insisted to have clinical practice and wrote his Shang Han Za Bing Lun (Treatise on Exogenous Cold and Miscellaneous Diseases), exerting profound influence on later generations. The Zhang-gong ci (memorial ancestral temple for Mr. Zhang) was built in Changsha city in the Qing dynasty to commemorate him and the medical sage Zhang Zhong-jing is recalled and venerated deeply by the people in the city even today.

A brief analysis of English translation of the book title of Shanghan Zabing Lun

A brief analysis of English translation of the book title of Shanghan Zabing Lun

Wuwei Handai yijian (Wuwei Medical Bamboo Slips of the Han Dynasty) as evidential material for exploring the origin of Shang han Za bing Lun (Treatise on cold pathogenic and miscellaneous disease)

Since there are only very few Chinese medical literature in the Han and preceding dynasties extant, it is very difficult to investigate the origins of both the herbs and formulas in the book Shanghan Zabing Lun (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Disease) and the status of that of the contemporary period. The Chinese medical bamboo slips of the Han dynasty unearthed from the tombs in Wuwei, Gansu Province in 1972, had been speculated by archeologists to be a medical literature written in the early period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, or, 150 years earlier than the time Zhang Zhongjing's book written at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Thus, it can provide evidence for the study on the source of herbs and formulas in Shanghan Zabing Lun.