Analysis on dosage of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces stipulated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia

Abstract

Chinese Pharmacopoeia I (2010 edition) covers dosage and usage of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and decoction pieces, and provides dosage ranges of most of decoction pieces. By using the descriptive statistical method, the article discusses the distribution of maximum dosage, minimum dosage and dosage range of decoction pieces set forth in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and compares toxic drugs and non-toxic drugs. Altogether 617 drugs are included into the study. Except for 16 decoction pieces whose dosages are not clear, all of the remaining decoction pieces are covered by Chinese Pharmacopoeia, with the maximum common dosage, minimum common dosage and dosage range of 3, 10 and 6 g. Upon comparison, we discovered that Chinese Pharmacopoeia sets stricter standards for toxic drugs than non-toxic drugs. Compared with dosages in classical prescriptions and actual clinical usages, dosage ranges described in Chinese Pharmacopoeia are much narrower. There is no significant difference between drugs that can be used as foods or healthcare foods and other drugs according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia.