Study On The Usage And Dosage

ObjectiveJiang, cao, zao containing sheng jiang, gan jiang, zhi gan cao, sheng gan cao, and da zao (abbre. ginger, licorice, and jujube) were frequently used herbs by Zhongjing with strict dosage application in unique characteristics. The paper aimed at tiding and analyzing the decoctions containing ginger, licorice, and jujube from Treatise on Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun,伤寒论)and Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Yao Lue,金匮要略), and summarizing the characteristics of usage and dosage of ginger, licorice, and jujube by Zhang Zhong-jing in order to provide the guidance and assistance for accurate application of ginger, licorice, and jujube in clinic.MethodsBasic statistical methods. In the study, the frequency, most-frequently used dosage, mean dosage, and distribution interval of dosage of ginger, licorice, and jujube were dealt by Excel and basic statistical methods. Cluster analysis. Select the decoctions including ginger, licorice, and jujube meeting the standard from the clauses in the two books and type into the Excel, and establish the data of usage and dosage of ginger, licorice, and jujube. Assigned values were bestowed based on symptoms descriptions in the data. After binary quantization, each sub-database of ginger, licorice, and jujube was carried on descriptive analysis and cluster analysis by SPSS 16.0 statistical package.Results1. Summarization of ginger’s usage and dosage by Zhang Zhong-jing. There were 68 formulae mentioned shengjiang from the two books and ganjiang in 52. The most frequently preparations of ginger were shengjiang and ganjiang, and only two formulae were prepared as ginger juice and pao jiang ganjiang used in Zhongjing period was dry preparation of shengjiang. The preparations of jiang were pao, cut, and squeezing into juice. The dosage range of shengjiang in decoction was from 13.8gto 220.8g, the most-frequently used dosage was 41.4g, and mean dosage was 53.3g. The distribution interval of dosage above 80% was from 13.8g to 41.4g. The values of these indexes in ganjiang were 3.45 g to 41.4g,41.4g, 32.6g, and 41.4g to 69g. After statistical analysis and specialized knowledge, symptoms highly associated with shengjiang were stiff neck, headache, and exterior fever. With gan jiang, symptoms were diarrhea, syncope due to interior cold, and defecation with blood and hemorrhage. The characteristics of ginger in successive dynasties indicated that the dosage range of sheng jiang in Sui and Tang dynasties was expanded compared with that by Zhongjing born in East Han dynasty. In Song dynasty, the dosage of shengjiang was declined in sharp compared with Han and Tang dynasties. The dosage of sheng jiang in Jin and Yuan dynasties was greatly shortened. The dosage of shengjiang in Ming dynasty was always in a lower level, but in Qing dynasty, the dosage was elevated a bit. The most-frequently used dosage of shengjiang was less than one tenth compared with that in Han and Tang dynasties. In contemporary and modern times, dosage of sheng jiang by practitioners was in a low level. In Han and Tang dynasties, the mean dosage of gan jiang was not in big difference. From Tang to Song dynasty, the most frequently dosage of gan jiang was similar. But in Jin and Yuan, the mean dosage and most-frequently used dosage of gan jiang were in great decrease. In Qing dynasty, dosage of gan jiang was a bit more than that in Jin and Yuan dynasties. In contemporary and modern times, the maximum dosage of gan jiang by distinguished practitioners was in the second peak.2. Summarization of licorice’s usage and dosage by Zhang Zhong-jing There were 70 formulae mentioned licorice among 112 formulae recorded in Treatise on Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun,伤寒论)a nd 85 out of 205 formulae in Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Yao Liie,金匮要略)The main preparations of licorice were prepared or raw. The zhi gan cao used by Zhongjing was sheng gan cao after baking or frying. The maximum, minimum, most-frequently, and mean dosage of sheng gan cao was 69g,13.8g,27.6g, and 30.9g The dosage interval above 80% was from 27.6g to 41.4g. These indexes values were 55.2g 3.45g 27.6g,30.9g, and 13.8g to 41.4g. After statistical analysis and specialized knowledge, symptoms highly associated with sheng gan cao were sweating, aversion to cold, and exterior fever. With zhi gan cao, symptoms were deficiency, edema, and heart palpitation. The characteristics of licorice in successive dynasties indicated that the dosage range was expanded in certain degree in Sui and Tang dynasties compared with that by Zhang Zhong-jing in Han dynasty. The mean and most-frequently dosages in Song dynasty were in great decrease. In Jin and Yuan dynasties, frequently-used dosage and dosage range were the same level with those in the Song dynasty. In Ming and Qing dynasties, dosage range of licorice was greatly shortened, and the most-frequently dosage of licorice by contemporary practitioners was 10g3. Summarization of jujube’s usage and dosage by Zhang Zhong-jing. There were 40 formulae mentioned jujube in Treatise on Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun,伤寒论) and 43 formulae in Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Yao Lue,金匮要略). Jujube used by Zhang Zhong-jing in East Han dynasty was red date from Qingjin. The jujube should be broken before decocting The form of Mei frequently used by Zhongjing in Jujube, and three mei jujube was similar to one liang (=13.8g). Each jujube was 4.6g. The dosage range of jujube was from 18.4g to 138g. The maximum, most-frequently, mean, and dosage interval above 80% was 138g,55.2g,54.8g, and 46g to 69g. After statistical analysis and specialized knowledge, symptoms highly associated with jujube were headache, exterior fever, stiff neck, aversion to cold, heart palpitation, no reluctance to eat, gastric glomus and fullness, vomiting and discomfort, and body ache. Dosage of jujube used by Sun Si-miao was greatly higher than that by Zhongjing.4. On combinations of these three herbs, by cluster analysis and specialized knowledge on these data, effects of zhi gan cao and sheng jiang were classified into regulation of the spleen and stomach, diffusion and dissipation of defensive yang, warm yang and supplementation of the middle jiao, and dissipation of cold and pathogen. Effects of jujube combining with sheng jiang were regulating exterior and interior, cold and heat, qi mechanism, ying and wei, as well as zang-fu organs. The frequently-used dosage ratio of jujube, zhi gan cao, and sheng jiang by Zhongjing was 42:3. By data analysis and judgment from specialized knowledge, the main effects of these three herbs were regulating ying and wei, protecting the spleen and stomach, and supplementing the healthy qi and dispelling pathogen. If focusing on regulating ying and wei, the exterior pattern was mild, and dosage ration was 1/3 to 1/2 compared with the normal ratio. If focusing on warming and regulating the spleen and stomach, dosage of ginger and licorice should be modified, and dosage of ginger was more than that by prepared licorice. If focusing on supplementing the healthy qi and regulating qi, blood, yin and yang, the dosage of jujube should be modified,25 mei jujube used as usual. After comparing with Sun Si-miao, the law of usage and dosage of jujube, licorice, and ginger as a pair was in accordance with that by Zhongjing5. Both jujube and licorice have moderate effect. The differences of usage of them were as follows:jujube was mainly used to alleviate the toxicity and drastic properties of gan sui, da ji, yuan hua, and ting li zi. Licorice was always used with fu zi in order to alleviate the toxicity of fu zi. Jujube was more nutrient in supplement fluids and blood of the liver and spleen, while licorice was good at supplementing qi and yang. In drastic formula of expelling water, Zhongjing preferred to using jujube. To treatment edema due to constraint of lung qi, phlegm-rheum, and saliva, licorice was frequently combined. On constraint of qi, yang, and heat pathogen, ma huang was used for diffusion, which was not combined with jujube but licorice instead. The licorice was frequently used in liver depression and qi stagnation pattern. In addition, licorice had effects of clearing heat and relieving toxins, as well as relieving sore throat. In formula clearing heat and draining fire, licorice was assisted. Licorice had dual-directional regulation. Formula in cold and heat complex or supplementation and drainage in combination, licorice was frequently selected to harmonize the medicinals.ConclusionThrough summarizing the usage and dosage of ginger, licorice, and jujube in Treatise on Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun,伤寒论)and Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (Jin Gui Yao Lue,金匮要略),these usage and dosage by Zhang Zhong-jing are not modified in random, but in flexible application and strict principles. Especially in dosage, large dosage of ginger, licorice, and jujube can obtain remarkable effect on treating some disorders. Outcomes from the study indicate that roles of ginger, licorice, and jujube should not be neglected in prescription in clinic.