This article discusses the derivation progress of "nineteen incompatibilities"in Chinese medicine by reviewing the main medical formularies and herbal literature of the past dynasties. During the past dynasties

incompatibility（ Wei

畏）

inhibition（ Wu

恶）

clash（ Fan

反） and prohibition（ Ji

忌） were used to describe the mutual relations between the herbs in "nineteen incompatibilities". The incompatibilities in "nineteen incompatibilities"are different from those in the seven-emotion incompatibilities

as they involve the herbal and dietetic contraindications. They are mainly recorded in the herbal literature of Ming and Qing dynasties

which indicates that with the development of herbal science

the understanding of the relationship between the herbs is gradually deepened

and the relationship in "nineteen incompatibilities"becomes more complicated. The understanding of the derivation of "nineteen incompatibilities"has certain significance on the study of prohibited combinations in Chinese medicine.