[Analysis of narcotic drugs in ancient times]

Recordings about narcotic drugs could be found in Liezi·Tangwen, and since then narcotic drugs for medical use appeared often in literature. In the South and North Song Dynasties, narcotic drugs were abused by the people. Various drugs like knock-out drops and knock-out incense appeared at that time and were forbidden by the government. From then on, narcotic drugs for medical use kept developing while the development history of folk narcotic drugs was not clear. There were a variety of formulas for narcotic drugs in TCM and the formula of folk narcotic drugs was simple. Gancaodou decoction was the antidote for TCM narcotic drugs while the antidote for folk narcotic drugs was cold water. Later the TCM narcotic drugs were also used less and less because of the side effects, prohibition of the government and the pressure from introduction of western medicine. Studies of recent years show that many dosage methods for narcotic drugs have been developed (such as oral drugs, enema drugs, injection and intravenous drugs) and the understanding of narcotic drugs deepens, which is good for the reapplication and popularization of narcotic drugs.