Through the analyses of the history and the present situation of nineteen antagonisms, the paper puts forward suggestions for the study of nineteen antagonisms. The development of the conception of "incompatibility", the suggestions of nineteen antagonisms, as well as the relevant provisions about nineteen antagonisms in Pharmacopoeia of People's Republic of China are reviewed. The incompatible arguments of nineteen antagonisms in the ancient literature, the experimental study and clinical reports are discussed. It can be seen that the clinical study always concerns the clinical reports, and then analyzes and proposes the clinical safety evaluation and the rules of the compatible application of nineteen antagonisms. While the experimental study on nineteen antagonisms mostly concerns the aspects of the chemical material foundation, the pharmacology and toxicology studies. We summarizes the existing problems in the studies of nineteen antagonisms, and put forward some suggestions, to provide some guidance for the future researches.

traditional chinese medicine compatibility taboo  /  nineteen antagonisms  /  historical evolution  /  incompatibility arguments