Literature Study of Chinese Medicine in Treating Malignant Ascites Based on CNKI / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize the herbal medication in treating malignant ascites based on literature. Methods TCM literatures concerning malignant ascites from CNKI (1989.1-2013.3) were retrieved. The herbs and those category, nature, flavor and meridian distribution were summarized by frequency method. The couple herbs were analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis. Results Fifty-five qualified documents and 56 effective prescriptions were collected. A total of 164 herbs were used (668 frequencies). Six groups of herbs, cumulative relative frequency (CRF) of 61.83%, were used frequently in order as followsthe herbs for promoting diuresis and resolving dampness, invigorating qi, invigorating the blood and removing blood stasis, regulating qi, eliminating heat and toxin, excreting drastically water. The most frequently used herbs (>6 frequencies, CRF 53.74%) had 25 species. The first three places were the herbs for promoting diuresis and resolving dampness (5 species), invigorating qi (4 species), invigorating the blood and removing blood stasis (3 species). These herbs were mostly of warm nature (260 frequencies, 38.92%). The total frequency of herb-nature was 1055 and the sweet (354 frequencies, 33.55%), bitter (284 frequencies, 26.92%) and pungent (268 frequencies, 25.40%) herbs were used more frequently. The total frequency of meridian distribution was 1747 and these herbs were mostly attributed to spleen, lung, liver, and kidney meridians (>200 frequencies). The most frequently used couple-herbs included Poria and Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Radix Astragali and Ramulus Cinnamomi, etc. Conclusion Invigorating qi was emphasized in treating malignant ascites, combined with promoting diuresis. The herbs of the warm and cold nature, the sweet, bitter and pungent flavor, spleen, lung, liver and kidney meridians were most frequently used.