中藥的性能：包括四氣、五味、歸經等，用來概括中藥的性質和特性，根據機體用藥後的反應歸納出來。
中藥的性味：即中藥四氣和五味。
四氣：又稱為四性，即寒、熱、溫、涼四種藥性，形容藥物對人體陰陽盛衰的影響，是說明中藥作用性質的重要指標。四氣可以再根據寒熱的程度不同再細分為大寒、微涼、微溫、大熱等，寒熱不明顯的歸納為平性。
五味：本義為藥物或食物的真實滋味。包括口嘗滋味及作用歸納兩方面。
食物的味：辛、甘、酸、苦、鹹，稱為五味。另有澀，附於酸；淡附於甘。
具有能收、能澀的特點，即收斂固澀的作用。
具有能泄、能燥的特點，即瀉下、燥濕的作用。
具有能補、能緩的特點，即補虛，緩和，調和的作用。
具有能行、能散的特點，既能行氣行血，又能散風寒、風熱的作用。
具有能下、能軟的特點，即瀉下、軟堅的作用。
和酸味雖口感不同，但作用基本相同。
具有滲利水濕的作用。
歸經：是藥物作用的定位概念，表示藥物的作用部位，臟腑經絡的歸屬。
中醫學具有整體觀念和辨證論治兩個基本特點。整體觀念認為人是有機的整體，構成人體的各個部分相互緊密關連，不可分割。人與自然亦關係密切，自然是指地理環境、季節氣候、晝夜晨昏等等，包含非常廣泛，對人體的生理、病理有一定影響。辨證論治是中醫診斷和治療疾病的基本原則。辨證，是辨別證候。論治，是治療疾病。中醫的辨證論治強調辨證，而不是辨病，亦不是對症。病：疾病，是人體由致病因素引起的病理過程。證：證候，機體在疾病發展過程其中一個階段的病理概括。症：症狀，是疾病的個別表面現象。
中醫理論體系的主要指導思想有陰陽學說，五行學說和精氣學說。陰陽學說源於人對自然環境的觀察。"陰"是指背日光的山坡，而"陽"則指向著日光的山坡。這個概念進一步引申到其他對立而統一的自然現象。例如上下、晝夜、光暗、雌雄、動靜、內外、水火等。所有事物都存在著陰與陽兩方面。古人長時間觀察自然，逐漸發現自然依循著一定的規律不斷轉化及演變。古人運用取象類比和推演的方法，對自然事物，人體器官等進行歸類，形成木、火、土、金、水五大系統的五行學說。
中醫理論認為人體是由氣、血及津液這些精微物質所組成。氣是構成萬物的最基本物質，其特性有如氣體，具流動的特性，可以理解為生命的"能量"或"動力"。中醫學認為人體"氣"的來源有兩個，"先天之精氣" 來自父母；"後天之氣"–"清氣" 、"水穀之精氣" 來自空氣、食物及水。中醫理論中的"血"泛指一般為身體提供營養的營養物。由"水穀之精"和"腎精"生成。血循行於脈管之中，從而運行至全身，對機體起著營養和滋潤的作用。
"六氣"，即風、寒、暑、濕、燥、火，屬於四季氣候的正常變化。當六氣異常變化，人體未能適應，就會成為致病因素，在病因上稱為"六淫"或"六邪"。
"風"邪：為百病之長，有輕揚開泄、善行數變、動搖不定的致病特點。
"寒"邪：有寒冷、凝滯、收引的致病特點。
"暑"邪：有炎熱、升散、多夾濕的致病特點。
"濕"邪：有趨下、重濁、黏滯、阻竭氣機的致病特點。
"燥"邪：有乾澀、易傷津液、易傷肺陰的致病特點。
"火(熱)"邪：有趨上、易傷津耗氣、易生風動血、易擾心神、易致膿腫瘡瘍的致病特點。
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.
