Species and Medical History of “Chenjiu” Medicinal Materials

As a special use of traditional Chinese medicine, "Chenjiu" class of traditional Chinese medicine have a long history. There were totally 58 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine from Mencius to the early republic of China. They could be divided into four categories:"Sixchen" class, ferment class, animal class and others of plant, of which "Sixchen" class were the well-known. The contents what they express were very rich concentrated on the relationship of ‘Chenjiu’ class and the change of Chinese medicine properties from different periods of materia medica. The relationship included six aspects, such as reaching property of a medicine of reducing the poisonous or over-strong property, strengthening the medicine function and processing effect, getting rid of stench taste, increasing fragrant purpose. Therefore, according to traditional experience, "Chenjiu" phenomenon is related to pesticide effect and quality of medicinal herbs. These research provide herbalism basis for the modern study of "Chenjiu" medicinal materials.