Analysis of Medication Rule of Treatment for Spring Warm Disease in Case Records of Qing Dynasty Based on Data Mining

Objective: To analyze medication rule of the treatment for spring warm disease in case records of Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) based on data mining. Methods: Ancient case records of warm disease were selected as the data source and the standard principle of data extraction was established. TCM Miner was used for collecting data and analyzing association rules. Results: A total of 225 case records of spring warm disease are recorded in 20 ancient medical classics, including 37 formulas and 219 Chinese medicines. The main formulas include Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), Fumai Tang (Pulse-Restorative Decoction) and Liuyi San (Six-to-One Powder), which fall into the category of heat-clearing formula, tonifying formula and phlegm-expelling formula respectively. The main Chinese medicines include Lianqiao (Fructus Forsythiae), Fuling (Poria) and Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii), which are capable of relieving cough and panting and resolving phlegm, promoting urination and eliminating dampness, as well as tonifying. The properties are mainly warm, cold and neutral; the flavors are mainly sweet, bitter and acrid; and the medicines mainly enter meridians of the lung, stomach and liver respectively. The frequently-used medicinal combinations include Xingren ((Armeniacae Amarum)) -Beimu (Bulbus Fritillariae), Jupi (Citri Exocarpium)-Xingren, Lianqiao-Jinyinhua (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) -Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae), and Lianqiao-Xuanshen-Shichangpu. Conclusion: The formulas and medications in the treatment of spring warm disease in ancient case records focus on clearing heat that is assisted by eliminating exterior pathogen and protecting yin fluid.