Under the National Health Insurance system, the prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctors have mainly been changed from decoction forms to concentrated preparations. This alteration in the prescription pattern of TCM may also have significant effect on prescription dosage. The common prescription methods of combined several formula prescriptions (疊方) of concentrated preparations often results in prescriptions of a variety of contents and possible low dose of a single herbs, which may not reach the minimum effective concentration. This article aims to understand the prescribed dosage of current TCM doctors, to clarify the differences and conversions between decoctions and concentrated preparations, and finally to discuss the problems enered in the prescription pattern of concentrated preparations and possible solutions. Our study found that most commonly used concentrated preparations were powder like preparations. The concentrated formulas are based on the "Official Standard Formula", and the dosage of the ingredients in the concentrated preparations are mostly lesser than the dosage generally used in decoctions. However, there is no obvious pro and cons in the extraction efficiency and human absorption of the active ingredients between decoctions and concentrated preparations. In addition, the use of combined several formula prescriptions is now the norm for concentrated prescriptions. However, due to the limitation of daily TCM prescription cost and insurance payments, there may be doubts that the dose of a single herbs in a prescription may not be sufficient to achieve an effective therapeutic concentration. Therefore, we suggest that the principle of prescription should be based on making a definite diagnosis, establishing priority of treatment, prescribing a prescription for the core pathogenesis, and simplifying the use of items of TCM prescription. Thereafter the prescription can be simplified and the dosage of each single herbs in the prescription can be streamlined to achieve effective treatment.
【Keywords】
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)； concentrated preparations of TCM； decoction of TCM； dosage； formula
254.4 濃縮中藥（科學中藥）處方劑量探討
