Clinical pharmacists frequently engage in prescription review. This article is compiled by the author based on personal work experience and relevant literature; it is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute any form of advice.

Based on the author’s experience, the formulation of prescriptions typically presents in the following ways:

1. Glyph-based method: Identifying and modifying characters based on their stroke patterns; this method gives rise to the homophonic method and the character-decomposition method.

2. Homophonic Method: Hawthorn ~ Shan Cha

3. Character decomposition: Shu Di, Chong He

4. Calligraphy herbs: Gan Cao, Gan Zhi, Bai Shao, etc.

5. Pictographic Method: △ (representing “triangular prism”), Fu O (representing “Poria cocos”)

Clinical pharmacists frequently engage in prescription review. This article is compiled by the author based on personal work experience and relevant literature; it is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute any form of advice.

Based on the author’s experience, the formulation of prescriptions typically presents in the following ways:

1. Glyph-based method: Identifying and modifying characters based on their stroke patterns; this method gives rise to the homophonic method and the character-decomposition method.

2. Homophonic Method: Hawthorn ~ Shan Cha

3. Character decomposition: Shu Di, Chong He

4. Calligraphy herbs: Gan Cao, Gan Zhi, Bai Shao, etc.

5. Pictographic Method: △ (representing “triangular prism”), Fu O (representing “Poria cocos”)

6. Alias Method:

1) Common aliases: “Da Bai,” “Ji Li” (often referring to Tribulus terrestris; its therapeutic effects can be determined by the prescription—either dispelling wind and soothing the liver or tonifying the kidney—such as with Sha Yuan Ji Li), “Yang Lao,” and others.

2) The “Cold Naming” Method (e.g., Chaihu–Rucǎo, Xiao Cao–Yuanzhi; in such cases, one may first consult the Great Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine).

3) Self-created names: pseudonyms. For example, a physician might arbitrarily name a formula “Immortal Embracing the Sword”; unless an informed person points it out, how would one guess that it actually refers to “Atractylodes”?

7. The Pinyin method: prescriptions may include Pinyin letters, such as LQ for Lianqiao and DS for Dangshen. Sometimes homophones occur—for example, SL could refer to Sanleng or Shanglu. In such cases, the overall meaning of the prescription can help make the correct identification. Some prescriptions also use Latin names or English equivalents; if you want to decipher them, it’s advisable to study the relevant languages.

8. The “Alphabet Method”: Dangshen, Huangqi, No. 1, Jiegeng, Chaihu… What exactly does “No. 1” refer to? It remains a complete mystery. There is also the “Dynamic Alphabet Method,” in which the same letter-and-number combination denotes different things depending on the date (they even use dynamic passwords—apparently they can now go head-to-head with the CIA!).

The “Guoyao Chuancheng” official account has observed that, in principle, one could first dispense a few doses of medication, compare the prescription name with the actual drugs, and assess the dosage—since counterfeit or substandard medicines are often found in prescriptions—but when faced with a dynamic password, even this option must be abandoned.

9. The “quantity-splitting” method: For the same prescription, different pharmacies may quote different prices. Some large pharmacies offer very low prices and dispense large quantities of medication; however, some with poor reputations will discount only the more expensive items by half (while actually dispensing only half the intended quantity), thereby making the prescription appear inexpensive on paper—when in reality, the patient receives far less medication than prescribed.

10. The “split-prescription” method: This technique is kept confidential from the patient but disclosed to colleagues in the same profession. The procedure involves splitting a single prescription into two separate prescriptions and instructing the patient to obtain the medications from different pharmacies, thereby preventing colleagues from gaining access to the original prescription.

11. The “Medication-Exchange” Method: Prescribing ginseng while actually substituting with codonopsis (specifically, adding codonopsis to the prescription) is done to inflate the prescription price and thereby swindle money from patients;

12. The “clipping” method: within a formula there are sub-formulas, most of which are devised by the practitioner themselves. For example: Codonopsis, Astragalus, Xingqi San, Bupleurum, Citrus aurantium… As for what “Xingqi San” actually is, only those in the know would understand.

13. Crushing method: Some traditional Chinese medicines are ground into powders…, making it impossible for industry professionals or patients to identify them;

14. The “Fashion Formula”: Occasionally, prescriptions will include trendy ingredients such as maca, yin chong, and feng liu guo. These items are commonly found at street stalls, but when they appear in standard prescriptions, they can be difficult to spot.

15. The “Cold-Back” Method: In contrast to the trend of fashion, there is also the “cold-back” method. To prevent prescriptions from being easily copied or leaked, pharmacists often include obscure, rarely used, and hard-to-find ingredients in prescriptions—ingredients that are both difficult to decipher and hard to locate.

To ascertain the specific content, the aforementioned methods must be integrated and applied in a comprehensive manner to interpret the prescription.

Given my limited work experience, it is impossible for me to have encountered every possible scenario. I welcome all colleagues to actively contribute and help refine and enhance this resource, so that we can learn and grow together.

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions inherently embody intellectual property rights; therefore, it is essential to address physicians’ concerns and better serve patients. In today’s economic and social context, it is indeed time to revisit the benevolent deeds of past sages, such as the spirit of “the spring warmth of the apricot grove.”

As the saying goes:

The myriad forms of prescriptions vividly reveal the joys and sorrows of human life;

Unmoved by honor or disgrace, calmly observe the vicissitudes of the world.