This work begins with a general introduction to Chinese herbs, covering their taste and nature, tendency of Lifting, Lowering, Floating and Sinking, toxicity and regularity of administration. The second part of the book briefly introduces and systematically examines the 326 herbs most commonly used in clinics. The herbs are arranged into 23 categories, according to their different therapeutic actions.

Compatibility is laid out in the form of tables that list compatible herbs, indications and prescriptions which commonly use one herb. The names of each herb in this book are given in Pinyin and Chinese characters, standardized by "Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China" published in 1990. All herbs listed are indexed according to Chinese characters in the stroke numbers or alphabetically according to Pinyin, Common name, Pharmaceutical and Botanical name systems and Classification of herbs according to their functions.