中药的配伍应用是中医用药的主要形式。我们看到大夫给病人开的中药处方里的中药往往都存在一定的配伍关系。中药间配伍关系古人总结为“七情”，即“单行、相须、相使、相杀、相畏、相恶、相反”。除单行外，其余六种都是谈的中药间配伍关系。
所谓“单行”就是指用单味药治病，适用于病情单纯的情况，如独参汤就只有一味人参，常用于大补元气。但由于病情多复杂，单行药往往难以兼顾治疗，需要同时使用至少两种以上药物配伍使用才能治疗病症。七情中的“相须、相使”可以实现药物配伍后增强疗效，比如杏仁搭配甘草能够增强祛痰止咳的功效。“相杀、相畏”的配伍可以减轻或消除药物的毒副作用或烈性，比如生姜能减轻或消除生半夏的毒性。而“相恶、相反”的配伍会导致降低药物疗效或增加药物毒副作用，在中药配伍时要加以避免,比如藜芦能削弱人参的补气作用。
Theconcertedapplication is theone of themain features of traditional Chinese medicine. It is often seen thatthere is a certainconcertedrelationship between theingredients in Chinese medicinesprescribed by the doctors. Theconcertedrelationship between traditional Chinese medicines was summarizedby our ancestorsas “Qi Qing”(which meanssevenkinds of concertedapplication), i.e. “Danxing, Xiangxu, Xingshi, Xiangsha, Xiangwei, Xiangwu, Xiangfan”.Except for “Danxing”, the other six are all aboutconcertedapplicationofChinese medicines.
The so-called “Danxing” refers to the treatment of disease withonly onesingle drug, which is suitable for simple conditions. For example,Dushen Decoctionwith Renshen (Ginseng) as the mainingredientis often used totreatvitalitydeficiency. However, due to the complexity of diseases, it is often difficult totreat diseaseswithonly one herbal medicine. Instead, it is necessary to use at least two or moreherbalmedicines at the same time in order to treat diseases. “Xiangxu” and “Xiangshi”(which literally means mutual needs and mutual application)meanthe efficacyof some herbal medicinescanbeenhancedwhen concerted applied. For example,almondusedwith licoricewill have betterexpectorant and cough relivingeffects. Theapplicationof “Xiangsha”and“Xiangwei”(which literally mean mutualmurder andmutualfear)can alleviate or eliminate the toxic side effects or intensity of drugs. For instance,ginger can alleviate or eliminate the toxicity of rawBanxia (Pinellia Tuber). However,the application based on“Xiangwu”and“Xiangfan”(whichliterally mean mutual aversion and mutualcounteracting)willreducetheefficacy or increasethetoxicity and side effectsof some herbal medicines, which should be avoided in theapplicationof traditional Chinese medicine. For example, Lilu (Falsehellebore Root and Rhizome) can weaken the tonifying effect ofRenshen (Ginseng).
转载自《读故事识本草：中药入门读本》
