Reflections on Classification of TCM Treatment Methods

There is no comprehensive strategy for classification of treatment methods， even the most classical classification: CHENG Guopeng's eight methods. The determination of treatment methods is a subjective speculation process. Treatment methods could be expressed in various ways， so the classification of treatment methods has the properties of subjectivity， limitation and multi-dimension. Starting with the TCM theoretical system， accompanied by related pathogenesis and etiology， it is more feasible to categorize the treatment methods. To solve the cross-repetition and tedious problem， treatment methods can be screened by determining the criteria concept and synonyms， selecting the smallest unit， and screening out the efficacy.