How to choose and use Chinese patent medicines?

　　Chinese patent medicines are patent medicines with fixed dosage forms made from compound Chinese medicines. The working people of our country have a long and rich history of using Chinese patent medicines to treat diseases. Because patent medicines are easy to use, they are not only popular among doctors, but also popular among the general public. The characteristics of Chinese patent medicines are briefly described below.

　　After traditional Chinese medicine is made into medicine, it is not necessary to boil it like a decoction when taking it, which saves time, reduces trouble, and is more convenient for patients. Chinese patent medicines are ready-made products that can be taken immediately after purchase. Especially for some critical illnesses, they can be treated in time. The dosage of Chinese patent medicines is generally much less than that of tablets, which can save a lot of medicinal materials. Depending on the condition, Chinese patent medicines can be selected flexibly. Chinese patent medicines are generally used for common diseases and frequently-occurring diseases, and have good curative effects. Patients can purchase medicines at any time according to their condition or use them as home backup medicines. Chinese patent medicines are small in volume and easy to transport and carry. Since the dosage of Chinese patent medicine is small, the price is relatively cheap, so it can reduce the burden on patients. The production of new dosage forms is beneficial to the application in various clinical departments.

　　After many patients choose and take Chinese patent medicines, they get very different results. Some say that the medicines are very effective, while others say they are not effective. What is the reason for this? Simply put, there is no evidence-based drug selection. To correctly choose Chinese patent medicines, one must have a preliminary understanding of the principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment of Chinese medicine, and have an understanding of the efficacy, main diseases and symptoms of Chinese patent medicines, and precautions for use. For example, if a cold patient has symptoms such as cold sensitivity, obvious cold sensitivity, runny nose, thin and white tongue, white urine, etc., this is a cold due to wind-cold. If a cold patient has fever, fear of cold, obvious fever, sore throat, yellow urine, thin yellow tongue coating, etc., this is a wind-heat cold. The former is wind-cold, and pungent and warm Chinese patent medicines should be used to relieve the symptoms; the latter is wind-heat, and pungent and cool Chinese patent medicines should be used to relieve the symptoms. Otherwise it will not only be ineffective, but may also be harmful. That is to say, when choosing Chinese patent medicines to treat a disease, you must first differentiate the syndrome, and then select appropriate Chinese patent medicines for treatment based on clear syndrome differentiation. For example, Yinqiao Jiedu Pills, which are commonly used in clinical practice, are pungent and cool external medicines and are most suitable for treating wind-heat and colds. If it is a cold caused by wind and cold, Yinqiao Jiedu Pills will not be effective. In addition, we should also pay attention to the efficacy, usage points, contraindications, etc. of various Chinese patent medicines.

　　To sum up, in order for Chinese patent medicines to work better, it is necessary to select Chinese patent medicines that are suitable for the condition according to the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment, and to take them according to the law, in order to improve the clinical efficacy of Chinese patent medicines.