3.5 The Effects of Multi-Ingredient TCM
In the 57 studies with 46 prescriptions, we made an analysis on the use of single and multiple traditional Chinese medicine (Figure 4 and table 2).
Level 1: Single TCMs. One hundred fifty-one ingredients in the formulation have been included in this study. Of these, 27 ingredients were used in five or more formulations. The name of each ingredient was displayed in pin yin. According to their frequency of use in prescription, Here is a list of TCMs: Huangqi (n = 26), baishu (n = 21), fuling (n = 21), gancao (n = 19), maidong (n = 14), baihuashecao (n = 13), shashen (n = 13), and renshen (n = 10) (Figure 4).
Level 2: Combinations of two TCMs. In this level, a total of 22 pairs of TCMs were used more than 7 times, including huangqi + baishu (n = 18), huangqi + fuling (n = 14), huangqi + gancao (n = 12), baishu + fuling (n = 17), baishu + gancao (n = 13), huangqi + baihuashecao (n = 12), huangqi+ maidong (n = 11), huangqi + shashen (n = 11), baishu + maidong (n = 11), fuling + gancao (n = 11), fuling + baihuashecao (n = 11), baishu + baihuashecao (n = 10), fuling + maidong (n = 10), maidong + shashen (n = 10) (Table 2).
Other levels: Combinations of three and more TCMs. These combinations of TCMs are used no less than five times in 46 prescriptions and they were shown in Table 2.