Concept

Seven compatibility methods

七情qi qing

2 sources

A traditional account of the ways two medicinals may behave when combined, set out as seven modes — single use, mutual reinforcement, mutual assistance, mutual restraint, mutual suppression, mutual aversion and mutual opposition — used to judge which pairings strengthen an action and which temper harshness or toxicity.

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷一·序例上·神农本经名例·七情（时珍曰七情释义）

Full definition

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

药有七情，独行者，单方不用辅也。相须者，同类不可离也，如人参、甘草，黄檗、知母之类。相使者，我之佐使也。相恶者，夺我之能也。相畏者，受彼之制也。相反者，两不相合也。相杀者，制彼之毒也。

Citations

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷一·序例上·神农本经名例·七情（时珍曰七情释义）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its definition.
WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine · World Health Organization · WHO IST-TCM 2022, WGM2 #2660 (§3.3)Cited from WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine for its standardized terminology.