An Analysis of the Combination Frequencies of Constituent Medicinal Herbs in Prescriptions for the Treatment of Stroke in Korean Medicine: Determination of a Group of Candidate Prescriptions for Universal Use.

Byeong Cheol Yun,Yoo Kyoung Han,Seung Bin Pae,Moo Jin Choi,Byung Tae Choi,Jin Ung Baek,Hwa Kyoung Shin

doi:10.1155/2016/2674014

Abstract

In contrast to Western medicine, which typically prescribes one medicine to treat a specific disease, traditional East Asian medicine uses any one of a large number of different prescriptions (mixtures of medicinal herbs), according to the patient's characteristics. Although this can be considered an advantage, the lack of a universal prescription for a specific disease is considered a drawback of traditional East Asian medicine. The establishment of universally applicable prescriptions for specific diseases is therefore required. As a basic first step in this process, this study aimed to select prescriptions used in the treatment of stroke and, through the analysis of medicinal herb combination frequencies, select a high-frequency medicinal herb combination group for further experimental and clinical research. As a result, we selected some candidates of a medicinal herb combination and 13 candidates of a medicinal herb for the treatment of stroke.

Highlights

Natural products utilized in traditional medicine have been invaluable for drug development [1, 2]
Combining prescriptions is advantageous because it accounts for variations in individual characteristics; it results in lack of universally applicable prescriptions to treat specific diseases
The combinations with the highest repeat frequencies were selected as candidates of a medicinal herb combination for the treatment of stroke (CMHCTS), and all medicinal herbs which comprise these combinations were selected as candidates of a medicinal herb for the treatment of stroke (CMHTS)

Summary

Introduction

Natural products utilized in traditional medicine have been invaluable for drug development [1, 2]. While disease symptoms are generally considered similar among patients from the perspective of Western medicine, in traditional East Asian medicine, the selection and administration of one of several tens or hundreds of prescriptions (which are mixture of medicinal herbs) vary according to the individual. This accounts for the diverse variables associated with an individual’s external (climate, food, occupation, etc.) and internal (body weight, gender, age, physical strength, etc.) environment. Combining prescriptions is advantageous because it accounts for variations in individual characteristics; it results in lack of universally applicable prescriptions to treat specific diseases

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Conclusion