Exploring the Formulation Laws of Blood Tonic Chinese Patent Medicines for Gynecological Diseases Based on Data Mining

Objective This study aims to explore the formula patterns of blood-nourishing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of gynecological diseases using data mining techniques. Methods Blood-nourishing TCM prescriptions for treating gynecological diseases were selected from “Chinese Pharmacopoeia,” “Preparations of Traditional Chinese Medicines,” and “Compilation of National Standards for TCM Patent Medicines.” A formula database was established, and R language was utilized for analyzing prescription efficacy, therapeutic categories, herbal frequencies, association rules, clustering, and co-occurrence networks. Results A total of 231 prescriptions involving 458 herbs were selected, with a cumulative frequency of 3404. The top two prescription categories in terms of efficacy were Qi-tonifying and blood-nourishing, and blood-nourishing and menstruation-regulating. The top two categories of diseases treated were menstrual disorders and postpartum diseases. The frequently used blood-nourishing herbs were Danggui, Shudihuang, Chuanxiong, and Baishao. Through association rule analysis, 56 rules were obtained with a support rate higher than 20%, confidence level higher than 70%, and lift value higher than 1. The highest supported combination of herbs included Chuanxiong, Fuling, Shudihuang, and Danggui. Three clusters of herbal combinations were identified through clustering analysis. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed six categories of herbal combinations. Conclusion Blood-nourishing TCM formulas for treating gynecological diseases primarily consist of Chuanxiong, Fuling, Shudihuang, and Danggui as core herbs. Qi-tonifying herbs such as Huangqi, Baizhu, and Dangshen, as well as blood-nourishing herbs like Danggui, Shudihuang, Chuanxiong, and Baishao, are commonly used. This study provides insights into the medication patterns of blood-nourishing TCM for treating gynecological diseases, guiding clinical practices, and laying the foundation for future drug development.