An initial discussion on the dosage of medicine

method of taking medicine

and indications of medicine

in Wai Tai Mi Yao （The Medical Secrets of Official） was carried out to summarize the application and characteristics of Zhusan Prescriptions （Decoctions made from powder

in which the medicines are ground into coarse granules

boiled with water for a certain period of time and only the decoction is taken） of and before the Tang dynasty. In the Zhusan Prescriptions

the dosage of medicine of each boiling is significantly smaller than that of decoctions

and the dosage of each taking is also less than that of decoctions. Its three principles in adjusting the times of taking medicine are of "dosage being in accordance with symptoms

severity of disease

and physique of an individual". And the indications are mostly the acute attacks of chronic diseases or the acute exacerbated stage.