Taohong Siwu decoction: A classical Chinese prescription for treatment of orthopedic diseases

The pathogenesis of orthopedic diseases is closely related to blood stasis, as it is often the result of damage to the primary and secondary blood channels, resulting in "blood leaving the meridians" or stagnation of Qi, leading to blood stasis syndrome. Taohong Siwu Decoction (THSWD) is one of the most widely used classical Chinese prescriptions for promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis. Clinical studies have confirmed that it’s significant therapeutic effects on various orthopedic diseases, especially effective in anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and prevention of deep vein thrombosis after surgery. But the research is currently scattered, and the interdisciplinary influence of the decoction has been limited. Therefore, this article comprehensively reviews the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of THSWD in common clinical orthopedic diseases and investigates the research hotspots and trends of THSWD through bibliometric analysis. We anticipate that this review could enhance the visibility and impact of THSWD in orthopedic treatment and offer guidance for further research into its pharmacological mechanism.