title: Identifying chinese herbal medicine network for eczema: implications from a nationwide prescription database.
abstract: Eczema is a highly prevalent dermatological disease that can severely affect the patient's quality of life. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is commonly used in combination for eczema due to the complicated pathogenesis. This study aimed to identify a CHM network for the treatment of eczema by using a nationwide database. During 2011, 381,282 CHM prescriptions made for eczema (ICD-9-CM 692.x) were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan and analyzed by using association rule mining and social network analysis. Among 661 available CHMs, 44 important combinations were identified. Among the CHM networks, seven clusters with the predominant traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern were recognized. The largest CHM cluster was used to treat the wind-dampness-heat pattern, and Xiao-Feng-San (24.1% of all prescriptions) was the core of this cluster with anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and antiallergic effects. Lonicera japonica (11.0% of all prescriptions) with Forsythia suspense (17.0% of all prescriptions) was the most commonly used CHM combination and was also the core treatment for treating the heat pattern, in which an antimicrobial effect is found. CHM network analysis is helpful for TCM doctors or researchers to choose candidates for clinical practice or further studies.
authors: Division of Chinese Internal Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33378, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
authors: Hsing-Yu
authors: HY
authors: Chen
authors: Division of Chinese Internal Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33378, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; Department of Cosmetic Science, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Hsuan
authors: YH
authors: Lin
authors: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; Department of Cosmetic Science, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33378, Taiwan.
authors: Sindy
authors: S
authors: Hu
authors: Division of Chinese Internal Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33378, Taiwan ; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
authors: Sien-Hung
authors: SH
authors: Yang
authors: Division of Chinese Internal Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33378, Taiwan ; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
authors: Jiun-Liang
authors: JL
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medical Research and Education, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Ilan 26042, Taiwan ; Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Chun
authors: YC
authors: Chen