Objective To analyze the traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM） medication law of primary liver cancer based on literature research.Methods The clinical research literature on TCM for primary liver cancer from January 2004 to December 2013 was searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure（ CNKI）.A database of TCM decoctions for primary liver cancer was established.The frequency of medication was analyzed.The effect

nature

flavor and channel entry of herbs were descriptively analyzed.Methods Results A total of 167 articles were included.There were 172 prescriptions

220 herbs and 2211 herb frequency involved.The 220 herbs could be divided into 19 categories according to the effect.The top 3 were deficiency-supplementing herb

heat-clearing herb and blood-quickening stasis-transforming herb

with a total frequency of 62.60%.There were 20 herbs with a frequency greater than 30.The top 5 were Fuling（ 茯苓

Poria）

Baizhu（ 白术

Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae）

Huangqi（ 黄芪

Radix Astragali）

Baihuasheshecao（ 白花蛇舌草

Herba Hedyotis）

Gancao（ 甘草

Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae） and Chaihu（ 柴胡

Radix Bupleuri）.In the frequency of herb nature

the top 3 were cold

calm and warm.The total frequency of cold herbs and slightly cold herbs was 40.70%.In the frequency of herb flavor

the top3 were sweet

bitter and pungent.The total frequency of bitter

sweet

slightly bitter and slightly sweet herbs was62.94%.Conclusion On the basis of qi-boosting spleen-supplementing therapy

heat-clearing toxin-resolving therapy

blood-quickening stasis-transforming therapy and liver-coursing qi-rectifying therapy are often used in treating primary liver cancer.