OBJECTIVE: To analyze the application characteristics of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma in different dose range

so as to provide reference for dosage refinement

hierarchy and prescription review of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Prescriptions containing Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma in Xiyuan Hospital

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in 2019 were extracted to establish the prescription database for Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma

and the frequency statistics of diseases

syndromes and drugs in different dose range were performed. Core drug pairs were obtained and dose ratio was calculated by association rule method of traditional Chinese medicine inheritance auxiliary platform. SPSS 23. 0 statistical software was used for systematic clustering analysis of the top 15 drugs. RESULRS: In this study

154 prescriptions of low-dose（ < 10 g）

11 346 prescriptions of medium-dose（ 10-30 g） and 237 prescriptions of high-dose（ > 30 g） of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were collected. When Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was used at low-dose（ < 10 g）

the most frequent symptom was Qi deficiency

phlegm stasis and blockage of ligaments

with a frequency of 16. 23%（ 25/154）. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma for frying was often used in the formula for invigorating Qi and consolidating superficies for arresting sweating（ Yupingfeng San）

where the most commonly used dose ratios of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma to Astragali Radix and Saposhnikoviae Radix were respectively 6 g∶ 10 g and 6 g∶ 6 g. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was often used in raw in the formula for resolving phlegm（ Linggui Zhugan decoction）. When Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was used in medium-dose（ from 10 to 30 g）

the most frequent symptom was spleen and kidney deficiency with the frequency of13. 86%（ 1 572/11 346）; the most frequent disease was menstrual disorders with the frequency of 13. 44%（ 1 525/11 346）. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma for frying was often used in the formula for strengthening the spleen and benefiting Qi（ Sijunzi decoction）

the most commonly used dose ratios of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma to Poria and Codonopsis Radix were respectively 10 g∶ 10 g and 15 g∶ 15 g. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma is often used in raw with dampness-drying drugs. When Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was used at high-dose（ > 30 g）

the most frequent symptom was spleen and kidney deficiency with the frequency of 24. 05%（ 57/237）; the most frequent disease was constipation with the frequency of 26. 16%（ 62/237）. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma for frying was often used in the formula for strengthening the spleen and benefiting Qi（ Sijunzi decoction）. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was often used in raw in combination with bran-fried Aurantii Fructus Immaturus（ Zhizhu Wan） for the treatment of Qi deficiency constipation

with the most commonly used dose ratio od 40 g∶ 10 g. Most of the results were consistent with the available literature. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma presents different characteristics in different dose range.