Based on a review of the literature on the efficacy of prescriptions

and starting from the current methods and limitations for determining the efficacy of prescriptions

the methods for determining the efficacy of prescriptions based on compatible environments were divided into two aspects. The first is the internal environment

including the division of the functional group of prescriptions under the guidance of systematic thoughts

determining the efficacy of prescriptions based on the compatibility of dosages

or on dosage forms; the second is the external environment

including determining the efficacy of prescriptions from the perspective of disease

or of syndromes. This paper summarized that the efficacy of a prescription is determined by the internal and external environment of the compatibility of the prescription

that is

the coupling of the internal and external environment of the prescription determines the efficacy of the prescription.