Experimental Research Progress and Transformation Strategy Analysis of Dunhuang Medical Prescriptions

Abstract Dunhuang medicine is an important part of Dunhuang studies, boasting rich and comprehensive connotations. It records more than 1,000 Dunhuang medical prescriptions, involving internal, external, gynecological, pediatric, Buddhist, and Daoist medicine, and has demonstrated good clinical effects. However, the mechanism of action of relevant Dunhuang medical prescriptions is still unclear, existing research lacks systematic review and summarization, which has limited their further development. At the same time, the inheritance, innovation, and transformation of Dunhuang medicine are critical issues for the development of Dunhuang medicine, which has important guiding significance for the future development of Dunhuang medicine. Therefore, this study systematically summarizes the experimental research progress of Dunhuang medical prescriptions [except for those contained in Fu Xing Jue Zang Fu Yong Yao Fa Yao (《辅行诀脏腑用药法要》 The Guideline to Use Medicines for Zang-fu) ], and seven such prescriptions were selected based on three criteria: well-preserved texts, no prior transmission to the outside world, and having extensive research and clinical application over the past decade. The findings indicate that this type of prescription is applicable to a broad spectrum of diseases and has a promising application prospect in health preservation and disease prevention, as it exerts therapeutic effects through multiple targets and pathways. Based on this, specific strategies for the transformation of Dunhuang characteristic prescriptions were proposed from three aspects: inheritance, innovative development, and transformation strategies, aiming to provide insights for the future development of Dunhuang medical prescriptions.