[Traditional prescription rules of Aconitum herbs in treatment of Bi syndrome].

The application of Aconitum herbs in the treatment of Bi syndrome has a long history and exact effects.By taking Aconiti Radix(Chuanwu), Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix(Caowu) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata(Fuzi) as example, this study was aimed to mine the prescription rules of Aconitum herbs in the treatment of Bi syndrome, and provide thoughts and bases for modern clinical medication. 1 106 prescriptions were obtained in more than 20 classic books including medical, pharmacy, and synthesized books from Eastern Han dynasty to Qing dynasty. Based on the methods of frequency statistics, percentile statistics and Apriori algorithm of association rules, the characteristics of syndrome classification, dosage and compatibility of Aconitum herbs in the treatment of Bi syndrome were analyzed. The data-mining results indicated that 60.76% prescriptions contained Fuzi, which was obviously higher than Chuanwu or Caowu, and 17.63% contained two or more kinds of Aconitum herbs. 70.34% prescriptions were used mainly to treat Bi syndrome with wind-cold-wetness, others were for the syndrome with the deficiency of liver and kidney, blockage of phlegm and blood stasis, and wind-heat-wetness Bi. In the prescriptions with definite dose, 80% dosage of Fuzi was in the range from 0.29-2.14 g·d⁻¹, while the dosage of Chuanwu and Caowu was from 0.14-1.01g·d⁻¹, which was also affected by patterns, formulations and processing. The dose of Aconitum herbs was highest in the Bi syndrome with wind-cold-wetness, and its dose in the decoction and vinum was significantly higher than that in the pills and powders. The processed products were used in 93.11% prescriptions, and their dosage was higher than the raw ones. In the clinical treatment of Bi syndrome, Chuanwu and Caowu were often used with Saposhnikoviae Radix(Fangfeng), Liquiritiae Radix et Rhizoma(Gancao), Myrrha(Moyao) and Ephedrae Herba(Mahuang), while Fuzi was often used with Cinnamomi Cortex(Rougui), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix(Niuxi), Fangfeng and Chuanxiong Rhizoma(Chuanxiong), which can both expel wind-dampness and relieve pain. All in all, Aconitum herbs are widely used in the treatment of Bi syndrome, which can relieve arthralgia and pain.