The First Materia Medica; The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Article
Published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine February 2014
The oldest surviving Chinese materia medica, the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica), categorised 365 herbs according to three categories: 120 ‘upper’ ( shang) herbs, 120 ‘middle’ (zhong) herbs; and 125 ‘lower’ ( xia) herbs. This article discusses the clinical implications of this tripartite organisation, which goes far beyond being a mere indicator of the level of toxicity of the herbs documented. It also includes a discussion of the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing’s categories of jun, chen, zuo or shi (chief, assistant, envoy and messenger), the meaning of which differs significantly from the typical current interpretation of these terms.
Your Instructor
After hospital internships in China during the summers of 2003 and 2004, JulieAnn moved to China full time to work with ATS to document two of Beijing’s most famous traditional practitioners Dr Li Hongxiang (1924-2018) and Dr Chen Tongyun (1922 -). This exposure to classically based clinical medicine led JulieAnn to understand the naturalistic perspective and utter practicality of Chinese medicine in a new light. Encouraged by Dr Li to complete doctoral level studies, JulieAnn focused on the classical perspective of herbs investigating the flavor and nature of the herbal substances applied in the Shanghan Lun compared to the qualities of the same herbs today.
After eight and a half years living in China, JulieAnn and husband Andrew returned to the United States due to changing regulations for foreigners practicing medicine. Now residing in Asheville, North Carolina, JulieAnn treats patients at the Alternative Clinic, oversees development of Appalasia tea and herb farm, and teaches post graduate herb programs in Zurich, London and Frankfurt.