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

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.

Identification of candidate medicinal herbs for skincare via data mining of the classic Donguibogam text on Korean medicine

“… 13 Combinations of 13 herbs have been used to treat stroke. 12 Additionally, 14 of 23 herbs that enhance cognition have been evaluated experimentally and clinically. 9.…”

“… 8 The analysis of Donguibogam terms led to the discovery of novel candidate cognition-enhancing herbs, 9. , 10 candidate anti-aging herbs, 11 stroke treatments, 12 and prescriptions for Parkinson-type rigidity. 13 However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has yet used data mining to comprehensively analyze Donguibogam cosmetic prescriptions.…”

An analysis of the combination frequencies of constituent medicinal herbs in prescriptions for the treatment of bone and joint disorder in Korean medicine: determination of a group of candidate prescriptions for universal use

“…We have done “text mining and literature review” regarding “cognitive-enhancing herbal formulae” and “medicinal herbs in prescriptions for the treatment of stroke” using similar methodology that this research used. 85 , 86 Subsequently, we have done experimental research on efficacy of medicinal herbs using the result we gotobtained. 87 , 88 As a result, although it is hard to conclude since there are only two cases, we provisionally conclude that the methodology (text mining and literature review) is very useful for selection of medicinal herbs which had the specific efficacy we were looking for.…”

Pretreatment with Shuanghe‐Tang Extract Attenuates Postischemic Brain Injury and Edema in a Mouse Model of Stroke: An Analysis of Medicinal Herbs Listed in Dongui Bogam

“…We then determined the dose of each medicinal herb within a prescription as a percentage of the total prescription. Those with a higher proportion of the medicinal herb were classified as main prescriptions [ 9 ]. Only those herbs within the top 80% as a cumulative percentage of each prescription were selected, resulting in a total of 33 herbs.…”

“…Compiled by the Korean royal physician Heo Jun during the 17th century, the Dongui Bogam contains records regarding a number of prescriptions and systematic screening methods that have been applied to both experimental and clinical settings [ 7 , 8 ]. Researchers have suggested that the Pung chapter of the Dongui Bogam contains valuable information regarding herbal combinations that may aid in the development of novel stroke treatments [ 9 ].…”