The theory of medicinal properties is an important basis for guiding the clinical use of Chinese medicine and daily health care, which involves the drug's properties, flavor and its effect on the body's internal organs, including the four natures, the five flavors, trends in drug action, channel tropism, poisonous and non-toxic and other aspects. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia has clear provisions on the medicinal properties of Chinese herbs.

The four natures reflect the effect of drugs affecting the body's yin and yang and changes in heat and cold, including cold, heat, warmth and coolness, reflecting the role of drugs in regulating the balance of Yin and Yang in the body. Cold drugs have the effect of clearing heat and removing toxins, cooling blood and dispersing blood stasis, and are suitable for cases where there is heat in the body or external heat disease, such as Coptis chinensis, bitter almonds, etc. In contrast, hot medicines, such as cinnamon sticks and epimedium, have the effect of warming Yang and dispersing cold and are suitable for cold and dampness, Yang deficiency and other conditions.

The five flavors include sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty, which refer to the different flavors of medicines due to their different effects. Sour medicines, such as hawthorn and jujube, have the effects of astringency, diarrhea and astringency, which can enhance the internal organs' ability to prevent excessive loss of body fluids. Bitter drugs, such as Huanglian, gentian herb, have the effect of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, clearing heat and removing toxins, which can help remove dampness and phlegm dampness in the body and promote digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract at the same time. Sweet medicines such as ginseng and licorice have the effect of tonifying the spleen and stomach, moderating medicinal properties, nourishing the blood and calming the mind, and can harmonize the nature of other medicines, while at the same time replenishing the vital energy and blood, nourishing the spleen and stomach, which is particularly beneficial to those with a weak constitution. Pungent medicines such as ginger and cinnamon sticks have the effect of dispersing cold and dispersing wind, which can promote the circulation of Qi and blood in the body, and are suitable for cold and wind, and the meridians are not clear. Salty medicines, such as kelp and seaweed, have the function of softening and dispersing knots, moistening the intestines and laxatives, helping to expel toxins from the body and regulating the balance of salts in the body, so as to maintain the normal function of the body.

“Shengjiangchenfu (升降沉浮)” refers to the tendency of the action of the drug in the human body. This tendency is opposite to the disease tendency of the disease being treated, and the disease position of the disease being treated is the same. The Sheng medicines, such as Shengma and Chaihu, have the effect of raising Yang and boosting Qi, which can elevate the Qi in the body, and are suitable for the lack of physical strength or mental depression caused by Qi or Yang deficiencies. Jiang medicines, such as Scutellaria baicalensis and Tianma, have the effect of lowering Qi and eliminating phlegm, which can lower Qi in the body, and are suitable for symptoms such as chest tightness and coughing caused by phlegm-dampness blockage or qi stagnation. Cheng medicines, such as Angelica dahurica and Mentha dahurica, have the effect of dispersing external evils, helping to dissipate external evils in the body and promoting the circulation of Qi and blood in the body. Fu medicines, such as Salviae Miltiorrhizae and Angelica Sinensis, have the function of sinking internal evils, helping the evils in the body to sink, and are suitable for cases where there is heat or dampness in the body, helping to stabilize the Qi and blood in the body.

The channel tropism refers to the localization of drug action, that is, the role of drugs and the body's organs and meridians are closely linked to the role of drugs to illustrate the role of drugs on a part of the body's selective, so as to provide a basis for the clinical defense of the use of medicines. channel tropism refers to the ability of drugs to act on specific organs and meridians. Drugs classified into the lung meridian are mainly used for the treatment of respiratory diseases, such as cough, wheezing, such as almonds, Momordica charantia and other drugs can moisturize the lungs to stop coughing and improve the health of the respiratory tract. It is used to regulate the functions of the spleen and stomach and improve digestion and absorption. Medicines such as Chinese yam and atractylodes can strengthen the spleen and stomach, enhance appetite, and treat digestive problems caused by weakness of the spleen and stomach. It is also used in the Liver meridian to relieve liver pain and depression, and to regulate emotions. Medicines such as Chai Hu (柴胡) and Lycium barbarum (杞枸子) are used to relieve liver pain and depression, and to alleviate emotional problems. Drugs categorized as belonging to the kidney meridian are used to nourish the kidney essence and regulate the balance of body fluids, such as wolfberry and deer antler, which can nourish the kidneys and strengthen the body and improve the symptoms related to kidney deficiency. It is also used to regulate heart function and improve sleep quality. Medicines such as Salvia divinorum and Acacia divinorum can calm the mind and improve palpitations and insomnia.

Finally, the theory of toxicity involves the safety of drugs. The toxicity of Chinese medicine includes direct and indirect toxicity. Some drugs have a certain degree of toxicity, such as aristolochia, arsenic, etc., which require special attention to the dosage and method of use in order to prevent harm to the human body. In Chinese medicine, there are detailed rules for the use of these drugs and the compatibility principle to reduce the risk of toxicity. Most Chinese medicines are non-toxic, such as ginseng and licorice, and can be used safely in treatment and health care with low toxicity to the human body. Non-toxic medicines can provide the body with needed nutrients and therapeutic effects while avoiding significant toxic side effects.