ABSTRACT
Chinese materia medica (CMM) granules for prescriptions is one of the improved products of decoction pieces, which is easy to use its most prominent advantage. However, lack of unified quality standards, non-systematic basic research on equivalences that is difficult to evaluate the equivalence on ingredients and treatment outcome between granules for prescriptions from single decocting and traditional decoction from combined decocting, which are the most prominent problems and controversial issues. Therefore, establishing unified and perfect national standards, achieving quality control and standardized management throughout the whole process, carrying out systematic treatment outcome equivalence comparison research between combined decoction and single decoction, developing (compound) granules of classical prescriptions, strengthening treatment guidance by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, and realizing extraction on the place of origin will be conducive in ensuring safety and efficacy of CMM granules for prescriptions, promoting healthy and sustainable development of the industry, and leading TCM into the world. Through understanding the history and present situation of CMM granules for prescriptions, analyzing deeply its advantages, existing problems and controversies, the new ideas for future development are proposed.
