International Journal of Clinical Case Reports 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 14-22 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijccr 17 1.3 Main classification of traditional Chinese medicine Chinese herbs can be classified based on different classification standards. According to their sources, they can be categorized into plant-based medicine, animal-based medicine, and mineral-based medicine. Plant-based medicine is made from various parts of plants, such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, etc. Examples include coptis, ginseng, and white peony. Animal-based medicine is derived from animal organs, tissues, secretions, etc., such as bezoar, musk, and bear gallbladder. Mineral-based medicine is composed of minerals or rocks. Examples include Gypsum, Cinnabar, and Realgar. According to the dosage form, TCM can be divided into Chinese medicinal herbs, TCM decoction pieces, and patent medicine. Chinese medicinal herbs refers to formulations that directly use the original or dried form of medicinal plants, such as herbal packs, decoctions, etc. TCM decoction pieces are processed from medicinal plants into tablets or granules, convenient for decoction or oral administration as a TCM formulation. Patent medicine refers to finished pharmaceutical products that are further processed from Chinese medicinal herbs or TCM decoction pieces, such as Banlangen granules, Four Seasons Cold Tablets, etc. According to their efficacy and functions, TCM can be categorized into warm tonifying drugs, cold cooling drugs, detoxifying drugs, and cough and asthma relieving drugs. Warm tonics have a warming effect, used for nourishing qi, nourishing blood, warming yang and consolidating the exterior, such as ginseng, wolfberry, etc. Cold and cool medicines have functions like clearing heat, detoxification, cooling blood, stopping bleeding, and relieving heat, such as coptis (Coptis chinensis Franch.), mint, etc. Detoxifiers have effects like detoxification, anti-inflammatory, and throat soothing, such as forsythia suspensa and Yinqiao tablets, etc. Cough-suppressing and asthma-relieving medicine has functions like suppressing cough, relieving asthma, promoting lung function, and transforming phlegm, such as fritillaria, almond, etc. According to their functions, TCM can be categorized into tonifying and replenishing medicine, disease-expelling medicine, and hemostatic medicine, among others. Tonifying and replenishing medicine has nourishing effects, such as tonifying qi, nourishing blood, and enhancing yang, including ginseng, wolfberry, etc. Disease-expelling medicine has effects like clearing heat, detoxification, transforming phlegm, stopping cough, promoting diuresis, and reducing swelling, such as forsythia, Isatis indigotica, etc. Hemostatic medicine has effects like stopping bleeding, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain, such as Xiguangjie Qianjinsan, Xiangsha Liujunzi Wan, etc. TCM theory posits that the medicinal properties of Chinese herbs is related to the meridian to which they belong. Therefore, herbs can be classified based on their respective meridians, such as herbs that belong to the liver meridian or those that belong to the heart meridian. These classification methods are not mutually exclusive but interconnected. By employing different classification methods, a better understanding and application of Chinese herbs can be achieved. TCM, as an integral part of Chinese traditional medicine, has a rich and diverse classification that provides a rich and diverse array of resources and choices for TCM treatment. 2 Historical Development and Principles of Meridian Tropism of Medicinal Properties 2.1 Meaning and function of medicinal properties Medicinal properties refer to the specific characteristics and effects inherent in Chinese medicinal herbs, encompassing features such as taste, meridian tropism, toxicity, and more. In TCM, medicinal properties serve as crucial indicators used to describe the nature and therapeutic effects of herbs. They form the foundation for understanding how Chinese herbs exert their effects in treating various illnesses. The taste and nature of a drug refer to its fundamental characteristics and flavor, primarily encompassing the five tastes and the cold-hot nature (Fu et al., 2015). The five tastes are categorized as sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty, while cold, cool, warm, and hot describe the influence of the drug on the human body. For instance, cold-natured drugs may have a cooling effect, reducing heat, while warm-natured drugs may have a warming and tonifying effect. The meridian tropism of drugs refers to the influence of drugs on the human meridians, that is,
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