Verses on the Eighteen Incompatibilities, Nineteen Mutual Restraints, and Pregnancy Prohibitions in Traditional Chinese Medicine

中药的十八反、十九畏、妊娠禁忌歌

Verses on the Eighteen Incompatibilities, Nineteen Mutual Restraints, and Pregnancy Prohibitions in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The “Eighteen Incompatible Medicaments,” “Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Restraint,” and “Pregnancy Medication Prohibitions” are traditional Chinese medicinal guidelines that outline which herbs should not be combined due to their potentially harmful interactions. Below is the translation of these terms and their associated verses.

Eighteen Incompatible Medicaments (十八反歌)

The Eighteen Incompatible Medicaments are as follows:

Verse:”The herbal classics clearly state eighteen incompatibilities,Banxia, Gua Lou, and Bai Lian oppose Wu Tou,Algae, Da Ji, and Yuanhua clash with Gan Cao,All kinds of ginseng betray Li Lu.”This indicates specific incompatibilities among certain herbs, such as:

Wu Tou (Aconite) is incompatible with Banxia (Pinellia) and Gua Lou (Trichosanthes).
Gan Cao (Licorice) is incompatible with Da Ji (Euphorbia) and Yuanhua (Genkwa).
Various types of ginseng are incompatible with Li Lu (Veratrum).

Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Restraint (十九畏歌)

The Nineteen Medicaments of Mutual Restraint are outlined in the following verse:

Verse:”Sulfur is the essence of fire, and when it meets natron, they clash.Mercury must not be seen with arsenic, and wolf poison fears Mithradate.Ba Dou is extremely potent but does not get along with Qian Niu.Clove should not be seen with turmeric, and Ya Shao cannot combine with Jing San Leng.Chuan Wu and Cao Wu do not get along with rhinoceros horn,Ginseng fears Wu Ling Zhi the most.Cinnamon can harmonize cold energy, but if it encounters stone resin, it will be deceived.Generally, compatibility is determined by harmony and opposition;Burning, roasting, and frying should not depend on each other.”This verse illustrates the relationships between various herbs that should not be combined, such as:

Sulfur is incompatible with natron (sodium sulfate).
Mercury must not be combined with arsenic.
Ba Dou (Physalis) is incompatible with Qian Niu (Morning Glory).
Ginseng is particularly wary of Wu Ling Zhi (Flying Squirrel).

Pregnancy Medication Prohibitions (妊娠禁忌歌)

Verse:”The water leech and the fly,Wu Tou and Fu Zi paired with Tian Xiong.Wild kudzu, mercury, and Ba Dou,Niu Xi, Yi Yi, and centipedes.San Leng, Wu Hua, and Zhi Lu,Da Ji, Chan Tui, and male and female yellow.Arsenic, salt, peony, and cinnamon,Sophora, Qian Niu, and soap pods together.Ban Xia, Nan Xing, and Tong Cao,Qu Mai, Gan Jiang, and peach kernels.Nao Sha, Gan Qi, crab claws,Di Dan, Mao Gen, and centipedes.”
This lists various herbs that are contraindicated during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of avoiding certain combinations that could harm the fetus.

These verses serve as crucial guidelines in traditional Chinese medicine, reflecting the historical understanding of herbal interactions and their implications for health and safety.

《十八反歌》
本草明言十八反，
半蒌贝蔹芨攻乌，
藻戟遂芜俱战草，
诸参辛勺叛藜芦。

《十九畏歌》
硫黄原是火中精，朴硝一见便相争。
水银莫与砒霜见，狼毒最怕密陀僧。
巴豆性烈最为上，偏与牵牛不顺情。
丁香莫与郁金见，牙硝难合京三棱。
川乌草乌不顺犀，人参最怕五灵脂。
官桂善能调冷气，若逢石脂便相欺。
大凡修合看顺逆，炮爁炙煿莫相依。

《妊娠禁忌歌》
元斑水蛭及虻虫，乌头附子配天雄。
野葛水银并巴豆，牛膝薏苡与蜈蚣。
三棱芜花代赭鹿，大戟蝉蜕黄雌雄。
牙硝芒硝牡丹桂，槐花牵牛皂角同。
半夏南星与通草，瞿麦干姜桃仁通。
硇砂干漆蟹爪甲，地胆茅根与庶虫。