Analysis of Characteristics and Regularity of Chinese Patent Medicine for the Treatment of Irregular Menstruation Included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia Based on Data Mining

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore and analyze the characteristics and patterns of Chinese patent medicine for treating irregular menstruation, as included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, using data mining techniques. We established an Excel database based on the prescriptions for irregular menstruation in the Pharmacopoeia of China, and used the TCM Inheritance Assistance Platform (TCMISS V3.0) software to analyze the data. After selecting medicines that met the criteria, we established a prescription database and conducted a statistical analysis of medication frequency, prescription rules, cluster analysis, and the distribution of herbs according to the four qi, five flavors, and meridians.Seventy-one Chinese patent medicines met the inclusion criteria, containing a total of 235 individual herbs. The most common dosage forms were pills and capsules. There were 10 primary flavors, including Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum wallichii, prepared Rehmannia root, Radix paeoniae alba, Poria cocos, Radix liquiritiae, Codonopsis pilosula, motherwort, vinegar with incense, and donkey-hide gelatin. These herbs are mainly used to tonify the blood, promote blood circulation, relieve pain, and warm the body. They are commonly attributed to the liver meridian and have a sweet taste. Using cluster analysis, we identified three groups of core drugs. Group 1 included Angelica, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Rehmannia; Group 2 included white peony root, Poria cocos, and Dangshen; Group 3 included licorice, gelatin, motherwort, and vinegar with incense. The treatment of irregular menstruation in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia mainly involves blood tonics, blood-moving agents, and analgesics, providing an objective basis for the clinical use of Chinese patent medicine in the treatment of irregular menstruation.