Analysis of Polypharmacy-Structure of Chinese Medical Prescription (III)

Prescriptions containing Asarum heterotropoides

Abstract

Chinese medical herbs have pharmaceutical actions of multi direction spectrum. By combination of herbs, these actions are increased or decreased. Chinese medical prescriptions are constructed by using this mechanism.
In this paper, we discuss the action of Asarum heterotropoides by using Pattern analysis techniques.
Eight Chinese medical prescriptions containing Asarum heterotropoides are classified into 3 groups, and these groups correspond to traditional pharmacological categories, which are “perspiration”, “expectoration” and “pain killing”.
M-D-SCAL was found to be more adequate in this analysis than quantification of the fourth type.