ABSTRACT
Objective To compare and analyze the formula composition based on their herbal nature for wind, cold, and dampness arthralgia. Methods The ancient formulas for wind, cold, and dampness arthralgia were searched and the database was established. The top 30 high-frequency herbs were analyzed with frequency, hypothesis testing and association rules. The nature, taste, and meridian distribution were used as the variable quantities for clustering analysis. Results Totally 338 formulas were collected, including 122 formulas for wind arthralgia, 110 formulas for cold arthralgia, and 106 formulas for dampness arthralgia. There are 21 same herbs among the top 30 high-frequency herbs;Tonic herbs were the highest frequently used, followed by the divergence of cold herbs in wind arthralgia, interior-warming herbs in cold arthralgia, and damp-resolving herbs in dampness arthralgia. The frequently used herbs in each kind of formula compared with other two kinds were:Cinnamomi Cortex, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, Notopterygii Rhizome et Radix, Paeoniae Radix and Astrragali Radix in formulas for cold arthralgia, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma in formulas for dampness arthralgia. Three kinds of formulas are given priority to slight warm, followed by warm and neutral. Classification is clear when most of the formulas were clustered into five classes according to their herbal nature in each kind of formula. Conclusion The three kinds of formulas cross each other but with own characteristics. A variety of data mining methods can be used to analyze scientific connotation of therapeutic principle for arthralgia.