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Qian Zhe Wang ChunYuan Yi An Cun was written by Wang Chunyuan in the period of the Republic of China, as medical case recordings, currently collected in the library of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. It contained 143 prescription formula, fully mirroring scholarly principles and clinical experiences. These medical cases in the book included internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics and gynecology, showing the author's particular expertise in diagnosing complex internal disorders. They reflected that the prescription formulas in the book were flexibly adjusted according to symptoms, demonstrating his exceptional skill in modifying formulas. They also showed that the author was particularly good at drawing on 'ingredients added to enhance the efficacy of a dose of medicine', in particular, warm substances such as ginger for this purpose. They revealed that the author paid sufficient attention to pulse diagnosis, the combination of acupuncture with medication and the use of both decoctions and pills. They also showed that the formulas integrated both cold and warm properties of herbs, underlying tonification and making the best of couplet medicines. The book preserves invaluable diagnostic and therapeutic models for the following generations and also provides significant insights and references for contemporary practitioners in prescribing and formulating medications.

The syndrome differentiation and treatment of'Gu Zhang'() and 'Xueku' () in Fu Zhong Lun, Su Wen was examined with the approach of exegesis and textual criticism. The four findings were as follows. 'Guzhang'() in the section of Fu Zhong Lun in Su Wen should be a misnomer. The key pathogenesis of this disease lies in the failure of food transforming into heat and the deficiency and weakness of spleen-stomach. Therefore, Ji Shi Li has to be used for treatment to help digestion, clear heat, tonify essence and replenish Qi. Then, the definition given by later-generation to 'Gu Zhang' () as one of the four intractable diseases including wind, consumption, tympanites and diaphragmatic obstruction is inadvisable, so is its clinical treatment of using rooster droppings and sweet wine for cirrhotic ascites. Additionally, 'Xue Ku' is neither simply the scarcity of menstruation nor equivalent to diseases such as infertility, but can be categorized into the field of consumptive diseases in later generations. Finally, the medicine for'Xue Ku' is Siwuzhegu Yilüru Wan (Four Sepia Bones and One Lvru Pill). It pioneered the therapeutic method of tonifying deficiency and resolving blood stasis for treating consumptive diseases in later clinical practice. The 'Lü Ru' in the prescription seems to be either madder or platycodon grandiflorum, but not rubia cordifolia.

Yi Jian Fang Lun, also titled Cheng's Yi Jian Fang Lun, was compiled by Cheng Lvxin, a doctor in the Xin'an medical school in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. It was found that the book, as the version of Kang Xi, was published at Zi Mu Tang in the thirty-second year of the Deca You in the period of Kang Xi (1693). The version of Jia Qing was published in the twenty-second year of the Ding Chou in the period of Jia Qing (1817) by Shi Yunyu at Du Xue Lu in the Wu County. The Jia Qing version retained the "Preface of Mao Jike" from the Kang Xi version, deleted other prefaces, but added a "Preface of Shi Yunyu," and reversed the order of the bibliography with the "Cited Examples". The versions of Wen Hui Tang and Qiu Wo Zhai appeared in the year of twenty-four Jia Chen (1844) in the period of Dao Guang based on the version of Jia Qing. A copy of the transcript based on the Kang Xi version was found in Japan, containing volume III and IV. As a book of formulas, Yi Jian Fang Lun summarized the theory and application of formulas and the rationales of predecessors. It provides an effective practical paradigm for the following generations.

The 'Ao Tou' format refers to a distinctive type of book format, characterized by its two-section layout with a line to separate the page. This format came from a private printing bookshop and became became popular in the area of Jianyang around the Wanli period in the late Ming dynasty. It, then, was widely used in the book format of Chinese medicine until the Qing Dynasty. With archival research and fieldwork, it was found that a total of nine medical books were printed with 'Ao Tou' format and forty similar medical texts. This study systematically categorized these works by dynastic period and stylistic features, analyzed the relationship between the upper and lower sections of the layout with an editorial perspective of book merchants, and classified the medical texts with the 'Ao Tou' format into four types. It was found that this version demonstrated meticulous editing and engraving while some of them looked rough. The format also had a certain influence on the development of printing in Japan. Therefore, the medical texts with the 'Ao Tou' format had great bibliographical and documentary value as well as cultural significance in the historical advancement of medicine.

The Beiping Pharmacy Evening School (BPES) was established in 1929, with the support of Beiping Municipal Health Bureau and the North China Pharmaceutical Association. The school quickly received reputation in vocational pharmacy training because of the participation and teaching of Meng Moody, Tu Wanheng, He zhidong and Feng Zhidong from the Department of Pharmacology at the Beiping Union Medical College (PUMC). Additionally, the school was greatly supported by John Cameron, Dean of the pharmacy at the Peiping Union Medical College Hospital, with five major textbooks. The great contribution to the school came from their teaching theories, professional training, textbooks, instruction, assessment and teaching management. In particular, Tu Wanheng, as an instructor and administrator, played a crucial role in driving the development of the vocational training course and witnessed the arduous process of the school development from 1929 to 1952. The school became a model institution for vocational pharmacy training among those emerged in cities such as Nanjing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou in the 1930s and 1940s.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the cultural meanings of the oyster shells unearthed from No. 3 Han Tomb of Mawangdui in Changsha, Hunan Province, by analyzing the relevant literature recordings of oysters in the pre-Qin and Han Dynasties and the unearthed situation of oysters in other early tombs. It was found that oyster shells unearthed in Mawangdui may also have the role of dispelling evil, and help people become 'immortal gods' after death, aside from the use for medicine. It was believed that the three factors were interrelated, indicating the feature of natural transforming from one shape to another. Oyster shells were then believed to be a part of nature and societal system, demonstrating the consistence between nature and human, based on the observation of the natural properties of oysters. The further exploration of medical use of oyster shells and its cultural indication with the three factors indicates the understanding and thinking of human towards nature, human and society in a peculiar historical and cultural context.

Medical case research in traditional Chinese medicine has made great achievements, driven by "Turning to Practice" in the field of scientific history. The medical case research in traditional Chinese medicine in terms of social cultural history started in the 1990s. Up to now, these achievements demonstrate progressive development, from examining and explaining the internal theories of medical case research in traditional Chinese medicine, centering on narration and cognition with descriptions and case studies, to exploring cross-cultural comparative research between China and European and other countries and areas. This research, while widely developed, derived a variety of problems from virtual differentiation in terms of generative logic, cultural sources and practical features between the medical case research in traditional Chinese medicine and in Western medicine. For instance, the compatibility of medical cases, the risk of "interpreting medical cases in traditional Chinese medicine with those in Western medicine", and weakening clinical experiences. The future of medical case research in traditional Chinese medicine has to consider problems and explore the following perspectives: exploring the comparative study and stratigraphic analysis in historical dimension, breaking through single explanations of models in cross-cultural comparisons, and exploring the historical value of folk medical cases.

The materialism of history is the fundamental principle of Marxist historical thinking and the ideological tool that guides the development of historical science and social research. It is the basic principle that guides the research of medical history in terms of the fact that the materialism of history focuses on the objectivity of history, the interaction between social and historical factors and social components, society and nature, the progressiveness of historical development, the necessity of analyzing specific problems, the ultimate decisive role of economic factors in social development, and the inevitability of the emergence of outstanding figures in the era based on the historical creation activities of humanity. It was found that the use of materialism of history as an analytical method can guide history research and interpret the influence of economic factors in history research, making it objective and easy to understand, while medical history research does not directly involve economic issues.

'Zhu Po Zhu Bu' () means to complement each other in the formula of traditional Chinese medicine. It came from the idea of refining gold liquid or elixir with similar materials, like lead or mercury, in spagirism in Zhou Yi Sen Tong Qi in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was used to guide the practice of regimen with the innate essence, such as Qi and spirit as drugs in the late Tang Dynasty. It was used to assist the practice of spagirism with grass, wood, blood and flesh products as the main tonic formula, making up for the loss of innate essence (i.e., Yuan Qi) in the latter part of life in the Song Dynasty. It was also used by the medical practitioners, who were good at the principles of health care in terms of 'Zhu Po Zhu Bu', to explain tonic formula which resulted in the formation of a new concept guiding the formula and the use of medicines. Until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this idea was applied by the physicians, who were good at the idea of 'Zhu Po Zhu Bu', to health maintenance and clinical practice, with insight into the understanding of regimen and reinforcing drugs. With the accumulation of the experience of the Ming and Qing physicians, the use of 'Zhu Po Zhu Bu' has covered the treatment of miscellaneous diseases and drug processing.

This paper examined the related literature of Pinellia ternate and Prunella vulgaris, summarised the syndrome and treatment characteristics of refractory insomnia and analysed the clinical cases of refractory insomnia treated by modern well-known doctors. It was found that Pinellia ternate and Prunella vulgaris have unique advantages in treating refractory insomnia caused by phlegm and fire stagnation (TanHuo YuJie). In addition, it was found that the interpretation of this medicinal function in terms of sleep aid changed from 'regulating Yin and Yang' to 'treating based on syndrome differentiation'. This elaborated the influence of Chinese traditional culture and current clinical requirements on the functions of herbs. It indicates that the value and meaning of such a change in interpreting the function of Pinellia ternate and Prunella vulgaris on sleep aid is the in-depth integration of traditional Chinese culture and clinical requirements. This lays the groundwork for empirical research of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.