The holistic

interrelated

systematic

and multivariate Network Image Thinking (NIT) of image thinking goes with the objective trend and reflects the inevitability of history.The concept of NIT was put forward to promote the in-depth research of TCM network pharmacology

illuminate the shift of thinking from entity to relational ontology

individual to group thinking

objective reality to virtual existence of NIT

and further analyze the NIT thinking characteristics of integrity and relevance

hierarchy

de-centeredness

modularity

dynamic

universality

individuality

and adjustability. With the guidance of NIT

there will be a broad prospect in the research of network pharmacology in the expression of prescription multi-targeted action

optimal design of prescriptions

the correlation research of prescriptions and patterns

which will manifest the guiding role of original thinking of TCM in modern research.