Zhang Zhongjing & Bian Que: The Masters Who Revolutionized Chinese Diagnosis
Zhang Zhongjing & Bian Que: The Masters Who Revolutionized Chinese Diagnosis
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, diagnosis is everything. Rather than chasing symptoms, the goal is to understand the pattern of disharmony. Two legendary physicians — Zhang Zhongjing and Bian Que — revolutionized how we understand the body.
Zhang Zhongjing (150–219 AD), author of Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage), was the pioneer of formula-based herbal therapy. His method of “syndrome differentiation” involved analyzing signs like pulse, tongue, and body temperature to identify internal imbalances. His legacy lives on through famous formulas like Gui Zhi Tang and Ma Huang Tang, which are still used for cold, flu, and immune support.
Bian Que, who lived even earlier (around 500 BCE), was said to possess supernatural diagnostic abilities. His holistic four-step method — observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation — became the foundation of Chinese diagnostics. He emphasized early detection and preventive healing, a principle echoed in modern wellness approaches.
At Herbylix, our wellness formulas reflect the same diagnostic mindset. Each product is created not just for a “problem,” but for a pattern of imbalance — whether it’s heat in the liver, deficiency of Qi, or emotional stagnation.
Our goal? To bring the ancient clarity of Zhang and Bian into your modern-day routine.