Advanced Formula Design Masterclass
When formulas stop working, it’s not a knowledge problem — it’s a reasoning problem.
A Clinician’s Guide to Mechanism-Based Formula Design
“Formula design is not about knowing more herbs —
it is about seeing what is unfolding.”
— Dr. Yuanlin Piao
The most important question in Chinese medicine is not “What is happening?”
It is: “What is unfolding?”
— Dr. Yuanlin Piao
Because illness is not a static picture —
it is a process unfolding across time, space, and the whole person.
Anonymous Student (UCLA)
“Dr. Piao is one of the few instructors who truly understands both classical Chinese medicine and modern clinical reasoning.
He doesn’t just teach what the texts say — he teaches how to think.”
Anonymous Student
“Dr. Piao’s teaching reignited my interest in Chinese medicine.
He explains complex theory in a way that is clear, structured, and deeply engaging.”
Stop memorizing formulas.
Start designing them.
Most practitioners inherit formulas — few truly understand how to engineer them.
This masterclass teaches you the reasoning system behind expert prescription design: how to read mechanisms with clarity, organize patterns logically, and build precise therapeutic vectors with confidence, not guesswork.
By the end, you will think like a designer — not a memorizer.
Why Formula Design Feels Difficult — Even After Years of Practice
Traditional training teaches us to memorize formulas, not design them.
When clinical situations become complex — mixed patterns, chronic disease, multi-layer pathology — memorized prescriptions fall apart.
What separates an average practitioner from an expert is the ability to:
- Identify the core mechanism beneath the presentation
- Engineer formula vectors that target each layer
- Adjust ratios with confidence
- Create precise, personalized prescriptions for real patients
This masterclass reveals the clinical thinking system behind expert formula design — the part that no textbook and no school teaches clearly.
By the end of this masterclass, you will be able to…
1. See through the chaos of complex cases
No more feeling overwhelmed by mixed patterns or chronic layers that “don’t quite organize.”
You will read clinical presentations with clarity — like wiping fog off a mirror.
2. Identify the true mechanism beneath the symptoms
Instead of chasing branches, you will recognize the one core mechanism that drives the entire case — the part most practitioners miss.
This shift turns confusion into confidence.
3. Think like a formula designer, not a formula memorizer
You will move beyond prescription memorization and begin constructing formulas with intention, precision, and structural logic.
4. Engineer therapeutic vectors with confidence
Understand how to select, combine, and modify herbs based on directional dynamics, ratios, and functional layers.
5. Design formulas that truly match the patient’s pathomechanism
You’ll stop using “almost correct” formulas and start crafting prescriptions that fit the case with accuracy.
Who This Masterclass Is For
This masterclass is for practitioners who want to:
- See complex cases with clarity
- Identify the core mechanism beneath mixed patterns
- Design and adjust formulas with precision
- Move beyond memorizing prescriptions
- Build confidence in clinical decision-making
Not for those seeking shortcuts or rote memorization —
This is for practitioners who want to think like designers.
🔥 Inside the 4-Week Masterclass
Week 1 — Think Like a Formula Designer
Learn the mindset and framework behind expert-level formula design.
Week 2 — Find the Core Mechanism
Cut through mixed patterns and identify the one mechanism driving the case.
Week 3 — Build & Adjust Formulas with Precision
Design therapeutic vectors, adjust ratios confidently, and target specific layers.
Week 4 — Apply the System to Real Cases
See the method applied step-by-step and practice clinical thinking you can use immediately.
Inside the Masterclass: A 4-Minute Preview
🌟 By the end, you will be able to…
- Read complex cases with clarity
- Identify key mechanisms with confidence
- Design formulas intentionally
- Stop memorizing — start engineering prescriptions
ADVANCED FORMULA DESIGN MASTERCLASS
Curriculum
- From Static Knowledge to Dynamic Clinical Thinking - Why Formula Design Is Not Memorization (6:06)
- Single-Herb Thinking: Why It Feels Right - and Why It Fails (29:34)
- Zheng Is Not a Picture, but a Process (24:54)
- Root and Branch: A Structural Question, Not a Moral One (16:19)
- From Pattern Recognition to Design Necessity (20:39)
- The Boundary of Understanding — Where Design Begins (18:00)
- From Pattern Recognition to Structural Design: Why Paired Herbs Are the New Unit of Thinking (32:19)
- The One-Pair Start Protocol: Establishing Direction Before Complexity (25:09)
- Functional Logic of Paired Herbs (44:22)
- Why a Finite Paired-Herb Toolkit Is Necessary (36:37)
- When One Pair Is Enough (31:53)
- How Paired Herbs Scale into Full Formula Structure (42:20)
INSTRUCTOR BIO
Dr. Yuanlin Piao, MD (China), LAc, OMD — 20+ Years in Integrative Medicine
Dr. Yuanlin Piao is a senior physician and educator with over 20 years of hospital-based experience in integrative Chinese and Western medicine.
He served for more than 20 years at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH)—one of the most respected medical institutions in China—where he trained generations of clinicians in mechanism-oriented thinking, formula design, and complex case analysis.
His clinical background includes:
• 20+ years of hospital-based practice in integrative medicine
• Former Deputy Director, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, PUMCH
• Specialist in mechanism-based prescription and formula design
• Extensive experience treating complex, multi-layered, and chronic conditions
• Deep integration of classical Chinese medical theory with modern clinical reasoning
Dr. Piao is widely respected for his ability to see through the apparent chaos of mixed patterns and identify the single driving mechanism underlying complex clinical presentations—a skill that forms the core foundation of this masterclass.
Today, he teaches internationally, mentors advanced clinicians, and continues to develop a new generation of mechanism-driven diagnostic and prescription design systems.
This masterclass distills the essence of his two decades of clinical, academic, and teaching experience into a practical framework you can apply immediately in your own practice.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE MASTERCLASS
Module 1 — Designer Mindset & Foundational Framework
Learn the structural thinking system behind real prescription design.
Move beyond memorizing formulas and begin understanding therapeutic vectors, mechanism logic, and clinical decision flow.
Module 2 — Core Mechanism Mapping
Discover how to identify the single dominant mechanism in complex, mixed-pattern cases.
Learn a step-by-step process to cut through noise and find the true clinical driver.
Module 3 — Therapeutic Vector Engineering
Build formulas intentionally instead of matching patterns to prescriptions.
Understand how to construct primary and secondary vectors, avoid formula conflicts, and create clean therapeutic direction.
Module 4 — Precision Modification & Case Design
Learn how to adjust ratios, strengthen or weaken components, and personalize formulas without breaking their structure.
Apply the method to real cases and develop repeatable clinical clarity.
WHAT YOU WILL GET
What’s Included in the Masterclass
✔ 10–15 Hours of Step-by-Step Video Training
Structured modules guiding you from mechanism identification to full formula engineering.
✔ Complete Case-Based Demonstrations
See real, complex clinical presentations broken down into mechanisms, vectors, and precise formula adjustments.
✔ Downloadable PDF Notes
Concise reference sheets and design frameworks you can use immediately in practice.
✔ Lifetime Access to All Materials
Revisit the lessons anytime — the content is yours permanently.
✔ Guided Formula Design Exercises
Practical assignments to help you internalize vector and ratio thinking.
✔ Certificate of Completion
A formal certificate recognizing your advanced training in mechanism-based formula design.
Enrollment & Tuition
Early Bird Tuition — $599
Available until December 24.
Regular Tuition — $799
Beginning December 25.
Course Start Date — January 6, 2025
Enrollment includes lifetime access to all course materials.
Why Enroll During the Early Bird Period?
- You save $200
- Tuition automatically increases on December 25
- This is the only time the course will be offered at this introductory price
-
Early Bird students receive immediate access to the Welcome Module
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. When does the course start?
The masterclass begins on January 6, 2025.
Module 1 unlocks on that date, and each subsequent module unlocks weekly.
2. How long do I have access to the course?
You receive lifetime access to all video lessons, notes, and updates.
3. How many hours of training are included?
The masterclass includes 10–15 hours of step-by-step video training, plus case demonstrations and design exercises.
4. Do I need a strong foundation in herbal medicine to join?
A basic understanding of formulas is helpful, but the masterclass is designed to elevate your clinical reasoning regardless of background.
If you currently prescribe formulas, you will benefit.
5. Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Upon completing all modules, you will receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing your advanced training in mechanism-based formula design.
6. Is there a refund policy?
No.
Because this is a digital educational program with immediate access to materials, all enrollments are final and non-refundable.
We recommend reviewing the course description carefully before enrolling.
If you have questions before purchase, feel free to contact us.
7. Will I receive personalized guidance?
Yes.
During the Q&A period, you may submit questions about clinical reasoning or formula design and receive direct guidance.
8. How is this different from other herbal formula courses?
This masterclass does not teach memorization.
You will learn a structural, mechanism-driven system for analyzing cases and designing formulas — a method rarely taught in traditional TCM programs.
Ready to move beyond memorizing formulas?
If you want to think like a designer, diagnose with clarity, and build formulas with confidence — this masterclass is your next step.
Enrollment is now open.
Early Bird pricing ends December 24.
The masterclass begins January 6, 2026.
Join the first cohort and begin your transformation.
Anonymous Student
“Dr. Piao is a teacher who truly understands Chinese medicine at its core.
His explanations are profound yet accessible.”