Classical Herbal Formulas (Jing Fang) Doctrine | Dr. Daoshing Ni | CEU Course from Yo San University

Discover the foundations of Classical Chinese Herbal Formulas (Jing Fang 經方學) with Dr. Daoshing Ni, Taoist physician and co-founder of Yo San University. This CEU lecture traces the evolution of herbal prescriptions from the Book of Han through Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue, revealing how ancient formulary doctrine shaped modern Chinese medicine. Learn the origins, structure, and clinical use of formulas such as Xiao Yao San and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, and understand why mastering classical formulas remains essential for today’s integrative TCM practice.

For CEU credits visit https://yosan.edu/ceu/. CAB and NCAOM Approved. A one hour Video CEU Course.

Keywords: Jing Fang, Shang Han Lun, Classical Chinese herbal formulas, TCM CEU, Dr. Daoshing Ni, Yo San University, Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Produced by: Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles

🌿 Course Summary

In this Continuing Education (CEU) lecture, Dr. Daoshing Ni, a leading authority in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and lineage holder of the Ni Family Taoist tradition, provides a scholarly overview of the Classical Herbal Formulary Doctrine, or 經方學 (Jing Fang Xue) — the study of classical and experiential herbal prescriptions from the Han Dynasty to modern clinical practice.

Drawing from both historical texts and clinical application, Dr. Ni explores the origins, evolution, and philosophy of Chinese herbal formulas, tracing their development from the Book of Han (Han Shu) to the foundational treatises of Zhang Zhongjing — the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) and Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet). These works form the bedrock of Chinese herbal theory and pattern-based therapeutics.

🎓 About the Instructor
Dr. Daoshing Ni, co-founder of Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a fourth-generation Taoist physician and author of The Tao of Fertility. His teachings integrate ancient Taoist philosophy, TCM classics, and modern clinical research, inspiring practitioners worldwide to bridge ancient wisdom and contemporary practice.

📚 Topics Covered
Historical overview of Han Dynasty medical documentation
The loss and rediscovery of early Jing Fang texts
First and second definitions of Jing Fang — experiential vs. classical formulas
The emergence of Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue as the foundation of classical formula study
Publication history of major herbal formularies:
Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies (Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang)
Qian Jin Yi Fang and Qian Jin Fang by Sun Simiao
Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang and Song dynasty compilations
Government and private sector publications of formula collections
Expansion of formula catalogues during the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties
Spread of Jing Fang studies to Japan and Korea, and the creation of massive encyclopedic formularies
Analysis of the 10 most popular formulas used today, including:
Xiao Yao San (Free & Easy Wanderer Powder)
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia)
Clinical examples of their structure, indications, and modern biomedical research
The importance of collecting, studying, and synthesizing herbal formulas for modern practice

🧠 Learning Outcomes
Participants will learn to:
Identify the historical foundations of TCM herbal formulary doctrine.
Understand the principles of formula construction and modification.
Differentiate between classical (jing fang) and contemporary (shi fang) approaches.
Apply pattern differentiation methods from Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue to modern conditions.
Appreciate the relevance of ancient formulas in integrative, evidence-informed medicine.

🔍 Key Terms & SEO Keywords

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