供御药的用途
1、养生保健治未病
Keeping healthy for preventive treatment of diseases
（1）常年养生治未病
Keeping healthy constantly for preventive treatment of diseases
《黄帝内经》曰：“阴阳四时者，万物之终始也，死生之本也，逆之则灾害生，从之则苛疾不起，是谓得道”。四季养生、防病于未然，不治已病治未病是中医养生、医疗的基本理念，同仁堂供的御药中50%以上用于治未病。在皇宫中，皇帝、后、妃等脾胃病较多，加之易有肝郁气滞，多数停饮较重，湿邪缠身，所以常年使用灯芯草、三仙饮（炒山楂、炒麦芽、炒神曲）等消食、祛湿、清心、安神的中药调理。
Keeping healthy and preventing disease are quite worthwhile all year round. This is the fundamental philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medical Treatment. Half of the Tongrentang supplied medicines for the imperial pharmacy preparation was mainly aimed at such preventions.
（2）四季调理治未病
Recuperating at all seasons for Preventative treatment of diseases
季节用药运用了中药的性味归经理论调理人体健康，选用平和、有效的药味，依据五行理论（春属木与肝相关、夏属火与心相关、长夏属土与脾相关、秋属金与肺相关、冬属水与肾相关）预防疾病的发生。这是中医养生保健理论和方法在清宫的具体实践，在现代社会仍然有广泛的应用价值。
The seasonal medication applies to the tropism of taste of Traditional Chinese Medicine for recuperation of the human body to prevent disease by using mild and effective Medicinal Materials and following the Five Elements theory. Such theories and practices of keeping healthy with Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Qing Imperial Palace still remain valuable of vast application in the modern society.
春季，天气渐暖，风多干燥，寒热交替，养生去病重在舒肝养血，养阴润燥，健脾开胃利湿。同仁堂供鲜芦根、白菊花、竹茹等宣润肺燥，养阴益肝；用灯芯草、三仙饮（炒山楂、炒麦芽、炒神曲）消食、导滞、养脾胃。
In spring, Tongrentang supplies fresh Rhizoma Phragmitis, white chrysanthemums and Caulis Bambusae In Taenia for nourishing the lung, nourishing Yin(feminine and negative) and strengthening liver. Common rushes and Sanxianyin are helpful for digestion and removing food stagnation, and strengthening the spleen and stomach.
夏季，天地温暖湿润，万物处于开散、繁茂的时期，需要防治温热过度，伤损阴液。同仁堂供暑汤、香薷汤、金衣祛暑丸、六合定中丸、灯芯草、薄荷、竹茹等祛暑解热、生津止渴。
In summer, Tongrentang supplies Herba Elsholtziae Decoction, Caulis Bambusae In Taenia and other products for clearing such heat, helping produce saliva and quench thirst.
秋季，天地气候转向寒冷、干燥，万物处于收敛阶段，北京地区秋风、风沙开始变多，人容易多愁善感，需要注意润肺防燥，止咳化痰。同仁堂供灯芯草、薄荷、白菊花等润肺去燥。
In autumn, Tongrentang provides common rushes, mint and white chrysanthemums for nourishing your lung and expelling pathogenic heat.
冬季，天寒地冻，万物纷纷进入阳气潜藏于内的状态，需要注意保护身体阳气，勿使外越，避免外界寒冷侵袭而损伤。同仁堂供鲜芦根、白豆蔻、砂仁、三仙饮（炒山楂、炒麦芽、炒神曲）等引肺气下降，开胃暖胃。
In winter, Tongrentang supplies fresh Rhizoma Phragmitis, cardamom, fructus amomi and San xian Yin and medicated leaven to down regulate lung Qi（Vital energy） for appetizing and warming the stomach.
（3）对症用药治未病
Indication-based Preventive Medication for Treating Disease Before Its Onset
乾隆四十一年至六十四年，乾隆皇帝因渐至暮年，先后天俱亏，阴阳气血虚损叠至，故频用八珍糕、生脉饮（煎剂），其中乾隆六十二年至六十四年，共进生脉饮359次。
In 1778--1801, the 41st through 64th Qing Qianlong reign, the Qing emperor Qianlong, in the twilight of his life, suffered from post-natural weakness, in addition to deficiencies of Yin(feminine and negative), Yang(masculine and positive), Qi（Vital energy） and Blood, therefore frequently took eight-therapy cakes and Shengmaiyin, of which, during 1799--1801, 359 were Tongrentang consumed by him.
2、随时传药治已病
Around-the-clock Medical Service For Curing of the Diseases
清宫成员发生疾病，特别是皇帝、太后等生病，同仁堂要“全天候”服务。
Upon their sickness, the Qing imperial palace officials and their family, especially the emperor and the empress dowager, demanded Tongrentang’s provision of around-the-clock medical services.
再造丸收载于1764年《同仁堂传统配本》的“风痰门”。经考证，光绪十一年（1885年），御医李德昌为慈禧太后拟再造丸，是根据《同仁堂传统配本》结合慈禧太后本人体质加1味白芍而成。 同仁堂再造丸仿单现存于故宫，仿单内容：“此药专治风湿诸痹、口眼歪斜、半身不遂、行步艰难、筋骨拘挛、手足疼痛。宣畅气血，通利经络。大者一丸、小者酌用。病在左部，用四物汤为引，当归、生地、白芍、川芎各一钱；病在右部，用四君子汤为引，白术一钱、茯苓一钱、人参一钱、甘草五分，如无人参用黄芪代；其余用姜汤、黄酒酌用；孕妇忌服；五种痫症，用金器煎汤送下。同仁堂乐家老铺开设在北京正阳门外大栅栏中间路南，有冲天招牌便是”。
The Zaizao Pill is compiled into the Anemogenous Phlegm category of TRT Traditional Medicine Matching Tongrentang in the 11rd Guangxu reign (1885), through investigations, it is evidenced that, the imperial physician Li Dechang proposed the Zaizao Pill to Empress Dowager Cixi with reference to TRT Traditional Medicine Matching, and just added one more herbal medicine -Radix Paeoniae Alba based on Cixi’s actual physical conditions. The Tongrentang imitated Zaizao Pill recipe from Tongrentang is now enshrined at the Palace Museum,
3、随王伴驾保平安
Ensuring the emperor’s health during his travels
同仁堂供的御药经常为皇上及皇室成员的出行保驾护航。
During the travel of the emperor and other imperial family members, Tongrentang medicines specially formulated for use by the ancient China's emperor were often brought with them.
乾隆四十八年（1783年）乾隆帝“木兰秋狝”（秋猎），备“随围药味咀片丸散”的差事由同仁堂承担，并“限八月三十一日送到”。此次所办药材有茯苓、苏叶、陈皮、半夏等27种；六味地黄丸、健步虎潜丸、补中益气丸、藿香正气丸、宣化丸、参苏理肺丸、五福化毒丹等成药34种；牛黄、冰片、麝香、朱砂、雄黄、犀角面、白芨面等珍贵细料药物及药面7种。
During Qianlong’s ‘Mulan Qiuxian’ (autumn hunting) in his 48th reign（1783）, the preparation of herbal medicines, slices, patent medicines used in the hunting was undertaken by Tongrentang, which was ordered ‘to be due on 31st day of the 8th lunar month’. There were 27 kinds of medicinal materials, 34 patent medicines And 7 kinds of precious and fine materials and powders.
4、赏赐大臣显皇恩
Rewarding the Minister to show emperor's kindness
皇帝不仅注重自身的养生，也对为其立下功劳的大臣或封疆大吏、近臣宠臣、皇亲国戚、前线官兵等十分关爱。这种关爱也在其赏赐药品上见到一斑。
The emperor not only paid attention to his own health, but also cared for the ministers or regional premiers who had made contributions, courtiers and preferred ministers, imperial relatives, and the frontline officers and soldiers.
平安丸为治日常心胃疼痛的方剂，胸膈胀满，呕吐嘈杂，纳呆痞塞者均宜，其可理肝脾，顺升降，不损元气，故不仅皇室人员使用，雍正帝也大量赏赐臣下。雍正六年十二月初八日（1728年），雍正帝亲批：赏总督、御史、巡抚、将军、提督、总兵、都统等各级将领平安丸，“共用平安丸捌万伍千柒佰丸”。
Pingan Pill is a prescription for treating pains in the heart and stomach. This prescription is suitable for those who feel fullness in chest, vomit, have sour regurgitation, and feel anorexia, distention and stagnation. It can regulate the liver and spleen, and coordinate the up and down movement without damaging the promordial Qi（Vital energy）. Therefore, it was used not only by imperial families, but also by ministers as rewards given by Emperor Yongzheng.
5、保障会试聚人才
Ensuring that examinations would gather talents
清朝每年春秋二次（同治五年以前每年四次）举办太医院科会考试，由堂官主考，凡吏目、医士、恩粮生、肄业生、医生，按考试结果决定是否能在太医院供职。此时同仁堂承担“科会试场差”，参考人员身体不适所用中药由同仁堂供应。
In the Qing Dynasty, imperial medical examinations were held two times, separately in spring and autumn , by the Imperial Hospital. The examinations were monitored by Court officials and the examination results of the participants, including minor officials, medical assistants, food doctors, interns, physicians, were used to determine whether they could work in the Imperial Hospital or not. At this time, Tongrentang was responsible for the "examination room errands", and supplied Chinese medicines to these who had discomfort during the test.
在清朝每三年的科举会试中，同仁堂根据举人的身体情况免费备药，写上举人的名字送到驻地。
In imperial medical examinations that took place every 3 years in Qing Dynasty, Tongrentang prepared medicines according to the physical conditions of the successful candidates of the examinations with their name on the prescriptions and then delivered these prescriptions to where they lived.
上述同仁堂提供的药品保障服务，既为皇家赢得了士子之心，也使同仁堂的产品名扬四海。
These drug-supporting services provided by Tongrentang had not only won the hearts of the scholars for the imperial family, but also made the products of Tongrentang well-known in the world.
6、防控疫情稳民心
Prevention and Control of the Epidemic to Stabilize the Public Confidence
清太医张仲元《太医院志》载：“奉旨于瘟疫时于京城设厂派员诊治施药……奏派差务：国初以来，每直京师多疫，由步军统领奏请恩施医药惠济满汉军民人等，得旨后由本院开单奏派……奉旨以为常例”。
Dr. Zhang Zhongyuan, a court physician of the Qing Dynasty, said in the Annals of Imperial Academy of Medicine: “At the order of the emperor, medical stations would be established and medical staff be dispatched to distribute medicines in the capital city whenever there was an epidemic outburst...the imperial decree stated: ever since the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, whenever an epidemic erupted in the capital city, the infantry commander would petition for an imperial decree to distribute medicines to soldiers and civilians from both Manchu and Han community. Once the Emperor issued an imperial decree, the Imperial Academy of Medicine would make a “list of medicines” and start the distribution accordingly...it was mandatory to follow the imperial decree.”
