Network Analysis on the Herbal Combinations
in Korean Medicine for Allergic diseases
Anna Kim
Department of Korean Medicine
Graduate school of Woosuk University.
Directed by Prof. Hong-Jun Kim. Ph.D.
Objective : This study has conducted network analysis and association
analysis data mining on medicinal herbs used for allergic diseases to propose
application of various research methodologies additional to the conventional
methodologies in Korean Medicine prescription studies.
Methods : This study has extracted, refined, and established various
relation information of single and compound prescriptions from research
papers on atopy, asthma, and rhinitis published in Korean Medicine journals
from 1975 to 2015. Based on the obtained information, frequency distribution
analysis, network analysis, and data mining analysis on the combination of
medicinal herbs was conducted. Basic statistics were produced by using
Excel (MS Offices Ver. 2013) while network analysis and data mining
analysis on prescription composing medicinal herbs was conducted by using
Netminer 1.2.1. and R/freeware.
Results : In atopic diseases, the degree centrality moved from Danggwi
(Angelicae Gigantis Radix) to Hwanggeum (Scutellariae Radix) as the study
gradually focused on medicinal herb combinations of high frequency. In the
case of prescriptions for internal use, the study showed 12 significant
medicinal herb combinations including ‘Bangpung (Saposhnikoviae Radix) ,
Jigak (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus)’-‘Gilgyeong (Platycodonis Radix) -
Hyeonggae (Schizonepetae Spica)’ while prescriptions for external use showed
5 significant valid combinations including ‘Gosam (Sophorae Radix), Jacho
(Lithospermi Radix)’ - ‘Baekseonpi (Dictamni Cortex)’. In asthma diseases
although Haengin (Armeniacae Semen) was not the most frequently used
medicinal herb, analysis results showed when combined with other medicinal
herbs it resulted as the most frequent and key medicinal herb. Also, network
analysis and relational data mining results showed 9 significant medicinal
herb combinations including ‘Maengmundong (Liriopis Tuber), Haengin
(Armeniacae Semen) ’ - ‘Gilgyeong (Platycodi Radix), Hwanggeum
(Scutellariae Radix)’. In rhinitis the degree centrality moved from Bangpung
(Saposhnikoviae Radix) to Danggwi (Angelicae Gigantis Radix). Based on the
analysis of medicinal herbs used for allergic diseases the treatment outline of
tonifying and replenishing, dispelling six excesses, dispelling phlegm, clearing
lung heat, purging fire was shown along with the related medicinal herb
network structure.
Conclusions : Network analysis and association analysis can be proposed
as another methodology in understanding Korean Medicine prescriptions.
Individual medicinal herb combination for atopy, asthma, rhinitis prescription
can be used for medicinal combination screening for each disease and other
allergic disease treatments. Furthermore, the proposed method may be used
for further composition of new treatment prescriptions.
Keyword : Allergic diseases, Atopy, Asthma, Rhinitis, Network analysis