ABSTRACT
@#【Objective】 To explore the prescriptions related to the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases in Prescriptions of Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang,《太平惠民和剂局方》, TPHMHJJF), and investigate the medication and prescription rules. 【Methods】 The prescriptions of TPHMHJJF for treating spleen and stomach diseases were screened, and the data set was established by entering the prescriptions and standardized drug names using WPS Excel 2019. Herb frequency statistics, efficacy categorization, property, flavor, meridian tropism, association rules, cluster analysis, factor analysis, and complex network analysis were performed using Python 3.6.8 programming language and Gephi 0.9.2 visualization software. 【Results】 A total of 239 prescriptions were included after the screening, and the dosage forms were mainly pills and powders. The study involved 200 herbal medicines, among which 40 herbs had a frequency of ≥ 12. The herb with the highest frequency was Ganjiang (Zingiber Rhizoma). The herb properties were mainly warm in nature, with the most pungent herbs. Most herbs were attributed to the spleen and stomach meridians, and tonifying medicine were the main species. The association rule analysis identified 26 second-order association rules and 16 third-order association rules, with "Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) → Fuling (Poria)" as the leading rule in the former and "Fuling (Poria) + Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizome) → Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma)" as the leading rule in the latter. Also, cluster analysis divided the top 30 herbs into six herb combinations that can warm the middle, move Qi, and dry dampness effectively. Factor analysis extracted 13 common factors, with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizome) as the highest contributing factors. Lastly, complex network analysis yielded the core prescription of 14 herbs, with Ganjiang (Zingiber Rhizoma), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome), and Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) among the herbs with a higher weighting degree. 【Conclusion】 TPHMHJJF is mainly based on the use of warming herbs to treat spleen and stomach diseases, and its medication rule can be summarized into three aspects: (i) primarily using warming and tonifying to warm the middle and dissipate cold, (ii) using the method of moving Qi with aromatic nature to delight the spleen and appetize the stomach, and (iii) emphasizing the regulation of Qi and blood to calm the five zang-organs.
ABSTRACT
In the clause of kososan (Xiāng sū sàn), which was added in “Wazaikyokuho (Hé jì jú fāng)” during the shàoxīng period (1131-1162), there is an anecdote that only the clan used this prescription showed defense against the epidemics at that time. Jiangnan area is the near place where COVID-19 became a pandemic in 2020. Considering these backgrounds and the similarities between the patterns (TM1) from the view point of Kampo medicine and prescriptions including kososan listed in the chapter of Cold Damage (Shanghan) of “Wazaikyokuho,” I hypothesized that formulas from this chapter may be effective for COVID-19. Many prescriptions including kososan in the chapter of Cold Damage were developed for the treatment of epidemics in the Jiangnan area during the Southern Song Dynasty. Epidemics were common at that time and place, and the prescriptions were left for posterity. The Kampo patterns (TM1) of COVID-19 were considered to have characteristics similar to those of the epidemics of the 11-13th century. The formulas including kososan from the chapter of Cold Damage in “Wazaikyokuho” may be effective against COVID-19, which warrants further investigation.