黄帝内経
The term herbology is misleading in the sense that, while plant elements are by far the most commonly used substances, animal, human, and mineral products are also utilized, among which some are poisonous. In the "Huangdi Neijing" they are referred to as [duyao] which means toxin, poison, or medicine. Unschuld points out that this is similar etymology to the Greek "pharmakon" and so he uses the term "pharmaceutic". Thus, the term "medicinal" (instead of herb) is usually preferred as a translation for ().