Current Situation and Re-understanding of Syndrome and Formula Syndrome in Chinese Medicine

The relationship between disease, syndrome and formula is thought to be one of the most significant problems in TCM clinical and basic practice presently. Generally speaking, syndrome is not only the core of TCM basic theory and syndrome differentiation, but also the bridge linking disease and formula, and the base of definite diagnosis and proper treatment [1]. However, it was pointed out recently that, there were different factions in TCM history. Syndrome differentiation was not the unique inheritance, and the establishment of its qualitative character and central position in TCM was just in the late 1950s [25]. Based on clinical practice for years, we learned the TCM literature of past dynasties systematically and excavated the TCM basic theory thoroughly. Consequently, we found that formula syndrome, reserved in TCM classics, is a special theory system in diagnosis and treatment. For quite a long time, syndrome theory, originated from the Canon of Internal Medicine and the Classic on Medical Problems, was believed to be the academic focus in TCM. Conversely, formula syndrome theory, originated from Auxiliary Verse on Drugs, Methods for Zangfu Organs and Treatise on Febrile Diseases, had been paid little attention, even ignored [6]. The aim of this article is not only to review achievements and consensus of syndrome studies, but also to explore the limitation of syndrome studies, clarify the connotation differences between syndrome and formula syndrome, and explore the further researches on formula syndrome.