Exploring the Action Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicines Based on the"Form-Qi"Concept of Life

ZHU Lingyue; HUANG Yuyan; ZHANG Liping

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-3250.2025.11.019

Abstract：Based on the"Form-Qi"concept of life,this paper uses the method of"Xiang"(image)thinking to explore the action basis,medicinal principles,and application rules of Chinese herbal medicines within the multi-dimensional interactive relationship of"heaven and earth-human-medicinal herbs".It is believed that both the human body and medicinal herbs are integral wholes of the unity of form and Qi.They share the same origin,have similar structures corresponding to"Xiang",which lays the foundation for the actions of Chinese herbal medicines.According to this understanding,the principle of the action of Chinese herbal medicines is proposed as"correcting imbalance with imbalance"based on the transformation between form and Qi.When medicinal herbs act on the human body to treat diseases,it takes the ascending,descending,entering,and exiting movements of Qi as the premise and the"Qi transformation"movement as the core.It is a process of the circulation of Qi and the transformation between form and Qi.Finally,through a combined analysis of form and Qi,this paper systematically summarizes the action rules of Chinese herbal medicines from the perspective of the"Form-Qi"concept of life and elaborates on them by giving examples in three categories:actions based on the similarity of form,actions based on the compatibility of Qi,and actions based on the corresponding combination of form and Qi."Xiang"thinking and the"combined analysis of form and Qi"are the key to understanding the traditional theories of Chinese herbal medicines.Understanding and grasping the rules of medicinal application from the perspective of the"Form-Qi"concept of life can not only effectively guide clinical medication but also inspire modern research.