Analysis of Classical Prescription Baizhusan Based on Ancient Literature / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Baizhusan， derived from Key to Medicines and Patterns of Children's Diseases （《小儿药证直诀》） by QIAN Yi in Song dynasty， is a classical prescription that has been highly praised by doctors and widely used in clinical practice. It was included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classical Prescriptions （the second batch of Pediatrics） released by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） in 2022. In this paper， the ancient documents related to Baizhusan were collected by bibliographical research， and the source， composition， herb origin and processing， dosage， decocting method， administration method， functions and indications of the prescription were analyzed and verified. A total of 211 ancient documents on Baizhusan were obtained， involving 116 ancient TCM books. It was found that there were many prescriptions named Baizhusan in ancient times， but the prescription named Baizhusan and composed of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma， Poria， Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma， Pogostemonis Herba， Aucklandiae Radix， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， and Puerariae Lobatae Radix was first seen in Key to Medicines and Patterns of Children's Diseases， and is now generally known as Qiweibaizhusan. The composition and functions of Baizhusan were unified in past dynasties， and its herb origin and processing were basically clear. However， there was a dispute on the processing of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， which was solved by recommended use of soil-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Boasting the functions of tonifying spleen， replenishing Qi， harmonizing stomach and promoting fluid production， Baizhusan treated a variety of symptoms such as diarrhea， consumptive thirst and loss of appetite， which were consistent in ancient and modern literature， but attention should be attached to the basic pathogenesis of spleen deficiency and fluid inadequacy. In addition， considerable disagreements were also observed about the dosage and decocting method of Baizhusan in the documents， and the combination ratio of Baizhusan in another version of Key to Medicines and Patterns of Children's Diseases of Wuyingdian Zhenben was the dominant standard for drug use in past dynasties.