中药的性能：包括四气、五味、归经等，用来概括中药的性质和特性，根据机体用药后的反应归纳出来。
中药的性味：即中药四气和五味。
四气：又称为四性，即寒、热、温、凉四种药性，形容药物对人体阴阳盛衰的影响，是说明中药作用性质的重要指标。四气可以再根据寒热的程度不同再细分为大寒、微凉、微温、大热等，寒热不明显的归纳为平性。
五味：本义为药物或食物的真实滋味。包括口尝滋味及作用归纳两方面。
食物的味：辛、甘、酸、苦、咸，称为五味。另有涩，附于酸；淡附于甘。
具有能收、能涩的特点，即收敛固涩的作用。
具有能泄、能燥的特点，即泻下、燥湿的作用。
具有能补、能缓的特点，即补虚，缓和，调和的作用。
具有能行、能散的特点，既能行气行血，又能散风寒、风热的作用。
具有能下、能软的特点，即泻下、软坚的作用。
和酸味虽口感不同，但作用基本相同。
具有渗利水湿的作用。
归经：是药物作用的定位概念，表示药物的作用部位，脏腑经络的归属。
中医学具有整体观念和辨证论治两个基本特点。整体观念认为人是有机的整体，构成人体的各个部分相互紧密关连，不可分割。人与自然亦关系密切，自然是指地理环境、季节气候、昼夜晨昏等等，包含非常广泛，对人体的生理、病理有一定影响。辨证论治是中医诊断和治疗疾病的基本原则。辨证，是辨别证候。论治，是治疗疾病。中医的辨证论治强调辨证，而不是辨病，亦不是对症。病：疾病，是人体由致病因素引起的病理过程。证：证候，机体在疾病发展过程其中一个阶段的病理概括。症：症状，是疾病的个别表面现象。
中医理论体系的主要指导思想有阴阳学说，五行学说和精气学说。阴阳学说源于人对自然环境的观察。"阴"是指背日光的山坡，而"阳"则指向着日光的山坡。这个概念进一步引申到其他对立而统一的自然现象。例如上下、昼夜、光暗、雌雄、动静、内外、水火等。所有事物都存在着阴与阳两方面。古人长时间观察自然，逐渐发现自然依循着一定的规律不断转化及演变。古人运用取象类比和推演的方法，对自然事物，人体器官等进行归类，形成木、火、土、金、水五大系统的五行学说。
中医理论认为人体是由气、血及津液这些精微物质所组成。气是构成万物的最基本物质，其特性有如气体，具流动的特性，可以理解为生命的"能量"或"动力"。中医学认为人体"气"的来源有两个，"先天之精气" 来自父母；"后天之气"–"清气" 、"水谷之精气" 来自空气、食物及水。中医理论中的"血"泛指一般为身体提供营养的营养物。由"水谷之精"和"肾精"生成。血循行于脉管之中，从而运行至全身，对机体起着营养和滋润的作用。
"六气"，即风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火，属于四季气候的正常变化。当六气异常变化，人体未能适应，就会成为致病因素，在病因上称为"六淫"或"六邪"。
"风"邪：为百病之长，有轻扬开泄、善行数变、动摇不定的致病特点。
"寒"邪：有寒冷、凝滞、收引的致病特点。
"暑"邪：有炎热、升散、多夹湿的致病特点。
"湿"邪：有趋下、重浊、黏滞、阻竭气机的致病特点。
"燥"邪：有干涩、易伤津液、易伤肺阴的致病特点。
"火(热)"邪：有趋上、易伤津耗气、易生风动血、易扰心神、易致脓肿疮疡的致病特点。
A collective term for the three portions of the body cavity, through which the visceral qi is transformed.
The chest cavity, i.e., the portion above the diaphragm housing the heart and
lung.
The upper abdominal cavity, i.e., the portion between the diaphragm and the umbilicus housing the spleen, stomach, liver and gallbladder.
A pathogenic factor characterized by its rapid movement, swift changes, and ascending and opening actions.
The lower abdominal cavity, i.e., the portion below the umbilicus housing the kidney, bladder, small and large
intestines.
A pathogenic factor characterized by the damage to yang qi, deceleration of activity, congealing and contracting actions.
A pathogenic factor, occurring only in summer, characterized by hotness and evaporation.
A pathogenic factor characterized by its impediment to qi movement and its turbidity, heaviness, stickiness and downward flowing properties.
A pathogenic factor characterized by dryness and is apt to injure the lung and consume fluid.
A pathogenic factor characterized by intense heat that is apt to injure fluid, consume qi, engender wind, induce bleeding, and disturb the mental activities.
A pathogenic factor that causes heat pattern/syndrome.
A combined pathogen of external wind and heat.
A combined pathogen of external wind and cold.
Any virulent pathogen that causes a fulminating disease
A combined pathogen of dampness and heat.
(1) pathologic secretions of the diseased respiratory tract, which is known as sputum; (2) the viscous turbid pathological product that can accumulate in the body, causing a variety of diseases.
The clear and watery pathological product due to disordered fluid metabolism, also called fluid retention.
A combination of phlegm and internal dampness as an entity to cause disease.
A pathological product of blood stagnation, including extravasated blood and the blood circulating sluggishly or blood congested in a viscus, all of which may turn into pathogenic factor.
Source: WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2007.
