A survey of the studies on compatible law of ingredients in Chinese herbal prescriptions.

The law of compatibility of ingredients in Chinese herbal prescriptions is the essence of TCM theory, and it is also a major problem that needs to be solved in the TCM modernization. Generally, the studies should be given on the effective site, the chemical compositions of a single herb, the integral drug effect, tissues and organs, serum pharmacology, and on the levels of cells and molecules, so as to expound the biological effects, material bases, and the mechanism for the actions of the prescription. And the studies should follow the principles of 'combination of the disease with syndrome, prescription-syndrome correspondence, and unification of the treating principle with prescription. Attention should be paid to the qualitative judgment and quantitative calculation, the compatibility of potion-pill and the compatibility of composition, the combination of micro and macro analysis, and the combination of theories of reduction and entirety. And the clinical indications should be clarified on the basis of explanation of the mechanism and the effective substances of the prescription. This is the appropriate thinking for modern researches on the law of compatibility of ingredients in Chinese herbal prescriptions, and it is very important for carrying on and developing the TCM theory of compatibility, gudinging the clinical treatment, and for screening out new effective drugs.