The Following gives some hints to get the most out of Medicine Traditions.
MedicineTraditions is designed to be used by students and practitioners to increase their knowledge and expand their clinical efficacy. By studying the various pages of MedicineTraditions, a great deal of knowledge can be accessed: learning effective combinations from other systems, new materia medica, the use of traditional formula, and new ways at looking at pathology, physiology and treatment.
General Notes
1. MedicineTraditions is presently optimised for Computer (desktop or laptop), not Mobile phone. This is mainly due to the formatting and embedded documents. Since MedicineTraditions is intended for serious study, not 'ready-reference', desktop is the preferred mode of use.
2. If the text is too small, use command '+' to increase font size.
3. We are still constantly building, updating and modifying. If you see mistakes, find broken links or have any comments, we would welcome your feedback.
Researching a Medicine
1. If you want to research a specific medicine and its use, start with a search in the search box on the Home Page.
2. You can take a look at the Materia Medica of Herbs (if it's a herb) for a brief overview.
3. From the search results you can look at the various formulas the medicine is used in.
4. Studying formula can often show the use of the medicine in two or more different medicine traditions.
5. Sometimes, if you're lucky, there may be a feature page on the very medicine you are looking for.
6. Pictures and Photos may be part of your search result.
7. Finally, there may be references to the medicine in the Glossaries, Substitutes, Articles etc.
8. There may be a reference to the Medicine in the Combinations section.
9. Sometimes you can find a similar use or pairing of a medicine in two or more different systems.
10. If you want to search a specific use for a medicine, you can combine search terms, for example, 'Licorice' and 'Cough'
Researching a Formula
1. Do a search for the name of the Formula on the Home Page. Generally, where possible, an Englishised name is used.
2. Check the Latin formula name with English translation.
3. In some cases, there may be more than one formula in the search result. Comparing the formula, author and source will show which formula is appropriate to your search.
4. If you want to check the individual medicines within the formula, go to the Materia Medica of Herbs (if its a herb).
5. Read the article How to Modify a Formula.
6. The Weights & Measures page can help you work out modern weights.
7. The Glossaries can help you identify plants. This includes Latin, Ayurvedic, Tibetan, Unani and TCM (soon).
8. The Substitutes page can help you make modifications to classical formula.
Researching a Traditional System of Medicine
1. Search on the Home Page. 'Tibetan Medicine', 'Unani', 'Ayurveda', and 'TCM' are appropriate searches for the different systems.
2. Formulas of the appropriate system will be in the search results.
3. Glossaries appropriate to the system in question can be searched.
4. Information on the system may be found in the Traditional Medicine Systems page.
5. Articles, Photos etc. may also be available.
Researching an Author or Physician or Source Text
1. Most formulas have an author or source text listed when known. Thus, searching 'Mesue' or 'Avicenna' on the Home Page search box, for example, will lead to formulas and other resources of those authors.
2. The Authors and Sources page may have information related to your search.
3. The Timeline may have the Author or Physician listed.
Researching Diseases and their Treatment
1. To research the treatment of a particular disease, you can try a search on the Home Page. Don't be too specific and keep away from modern scientific names. Try 'Asthma' rather than 'Bronchial Asthma'.
2. Look at the Diseases and Formulas page for a list of diseases with appropriate Formulas and treatment. This page is better for searching categories, for example 'Arthritis and Joint Disease'. This can give an overview of the types and varieties of formula used for a class of diseases. For specific diseases, for example 'Cervical Spondylosis', search on the Home Page.
3. If you are looking for medicines for 'Cold-Damp type Joint pain', searching the Arthritic and Joint Disease page on the Diseases and Formulas page will show formulas broken down into different headings, including 'Cold-Damp type Joint Pain'.
4. Search result may have articles on the disease or treatment being searched.
5. There is an Introduction to the Types of Treatment in Traditional Medicine.
MedicineTraditions is designed to be used by students and practitioners to increase their knowledge and expand their clinical efficacy. By studying the various pages of MedicineTraditions, a great deal of knowledge can be accessed: learning effective combinations from other systems, new materia medica, the use of traditional formula, and new ways at looking at pathology, physiology and treatment.
General Notes
1. MedicineTraditions is presently optimised for Computer (desktop or laptop), not Mobile phone. This is mainly due to the formatting and embedded documents. Since MedicineTraditions is intended for serious study, not 'ready-reference', desktop is the preferred mode of use.
2. If the text is too small, use command '+' to increase font size.
3. We are still constantly building, updating and modifying. If you see mistakes, find broken links or have any comments, we would welcome your feedback.
Researching a Medicine
1. If you want to research a specific medicine and its use, start with a search in the search box on the Home Page.
2. You can take a look at the Materia Medica of Herbs (if it's a herb) for a brief overview.
3. From the search results you can look at the various formulas the medicine is used in.
4. Studying formula can often show the use of the medicine in two or more different medicine traditions.
5. Sometimes, if you're lucky, there may be a feature page on the very medicine you are looking for.
6. Pictures and Photos may be part of your search result.
7. Finally, there may be references to the medicine in the Glossaries, Substitutes, Articles etc.
8. There may be a reference to the Medicine in the Combinations section.
9. Sometimes you can find a similar use or pairing of a medicine in two or more different systems.
10. If you want to search a specific use for a medicine, you can combine search terms, for example, 'Licorice' and 'Cough'
Researching a Formula
1. Do a search for the name of the Formula on the Home Page. Generally, where possible, an Englishised name is used.
2. Check the Latin formula name with English translation.
3. In some cases, there may be more than one formula in the search result. Comparing the formula, author and source will show which formula is appropriate to your search.
4. If you want to check the individual medicines within the formula, go to the Materia Medica of Herbs (if its a herb).
5. Read the article How to Modify a Formula.
6. The Weights & Measures page can help you work out modern weights.
7. The Glossaries can help you identify plants. This includes Latin, Ayurvedic, Tibetan, Unani and TCM (soon).
8. The Substitutes page can help you make modifications to classical formula.
Researching a Traditional System of Medicine
1. Search on the Home Page. 'Tibetan Medicine', 'Unani', 'Ayurveda', and 'TCM' are appropriate searches for the different systems.
2. Formulas of the appropriate system will be in the search results.
3. Glossaries appropriate to the system in question can be searched.
4. Information on the system may be found in the Traditional Medicine Systems page.
5. Articles, Photos etc. may also be available.
Researching an Author or Physician or Source Text
1. Most formulas have an author or source text listed when known. Thus, searching 'Mesue' or 'Avicenna' on the Home Page search box, for example, will lead to formulas and other resources of those authors.
2. The Authors and Sources page may have information related to your search.
3. The Timeline may have the Author or Physician listed.
Researching Diseases and their Treatment
1. To research the treatment of a particular disease, you can try a search on the Home Page. Don't be too specific and keep away from modern scientific names. Try 'Asthma' rather than 'Bronchial Asthma'.
2. Look at the Diseases and Formulas page for a list of diseases with appropriate Formulas and treatment. This page is better for searching categories, for example 'Arthritis and Joint Disease'. This can give an overview of the types and varieties of formula used for a class of diseases. For specific diseases, for example 'Cervical Spondylosis', search on the Home Page.
3. If you are looking for medicines for 'Cold-Damp type Joint pain', searching the Arthritic and Joint Disease page on the Diseases and Formulas page will show formulas broken down into different headings, including 'Cold-Damp type Joint Pain'.
4. Search result may have articles on the disease or treatment being searched.
5. There is an Introduction to the Types of Treatment in Traditional Medicine.