On the Medication Rules in Shang Han Lun Based on Complex Network Analysis

Aim: To explore the medication rules in Shang Han Lun based on complex network analysis methods. Methods: Prescriptions were extracted from Shang Han Lun to establish a database. After standardizing the data, software was developed using Python to perform statistical analysis on medication frequency, relationships between drugs, and core drugs. Results: The appearance frequency of roasted licorice, cassia twig, jujube, ginger, and peony was relatively high in the 112 prescriptions in Shang Han Lun. The main prescriptions for Taiyang disease were Guizhi Tang and Mahuang Tang. The core drugs for Shaoyang disease and combined diseases were licorice, jujube, ginger, Scutellariae radix, and cassia twig. The core drugs for Yangming disease were rhubarb, licorice, Fructus aurantii Immaturus, and Magnoliae Officinalis. The main prescription for Taiyin disease was Guizhi Tang with modifications. For Shaoyin disease, the main medications were those for restoring Yang and reversing adverse flow or nourishing Yin and clearing heat. The core drugs for Jueyin disease were licorice, Scutellariae radix, Angelicae sinensis radix, cassia twig, gypsum fibrosum, Paeoniae alba, and dried ginger. Conclusion: Complex network methods can analyze the medication characteristics and relationship characteristics of Shang Han Lun, which is meaningful for further analysis of the medication compatibility characteristics and syndrome differentiation medication rules in Shang Han Lun.