Concept

Toxic and non-toxic

有毒无毒you du wu du

1 source

The classical judgement of whether a medicinal is regarded as toxic or non-toxic, and if toxic to what degree — a distinction that traditionally guides how much may be used and how the substance is prepared. (English self-authored; WHO IST-TCM 2022 contains no corresponding standard term.)

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷一·序例上·神农本经名例·有毒无毒（岐伯曰大毒常毒小毒无毒）

Full definition

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

病有久新，方有大小，有毒无毒，固宜常制。大毒治病，十去其六；常毒治病，十去其七；小毒治病，十去其八；无毒治病，十去其九。谷、肉、果、菜，食养尽之，无使过之，伤其正也。

Citations

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷一·序例上·神农本经名例·有毒无毒（岐伯曰大毒常毒小毒无毒）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its definition.