Objective To study the rules of traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM） syndrome distribution

prescriptions in the treatment of Hashimoto’ s thyroiditis based on syndrome differentiation. Methods Literature of TCM treating Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in China National Knowledge Infrastructure（ CNKI）

Wanfang

VIP

Sino Med

Pub Med from January 1

1979 to June 30

2017 were searched and collected. The TCM syndrome differentiation

prescriptions in the treatment of Hashimoto’ s thyroiditis

as well as the relationship between different syndrome and age

gender

thyroid function and thyroid clinical indexes were analyzed. Results A total of 32 TCM syndromes were counted in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Among them

syndrome of spleen and kidney yang deficiency

stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis

liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency

stagnation of phlegm and qi

liver depression and qi stagnation

deficiency of qi and yin were the main syndromes of Hashimoto’ s thyroiditis; 469 prescriptions were counted

among which 212 were set formulas

mainly involved in tonifying formula

harmonizing formula

phlegmremoving formula

heat-clearing formula

warming interior formula. 311 kinds of Chinese medicine were involved

among which Chinese medicine of tonifying deficiency

clearing heat

activating blood regulation and removing stasis

removing phlegm

relieving cough and asthma

promoting qi circulation were the most frequently used. 6 clustering prescriptions were achieved through hierarchical cluster analysis methods to 51 counted Chinese medicines

which were applied the following syndromes of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: syndrome of pathogenic fire due to stagnation of liver;syndrome of spleen deficiency and phlegm coagulation

stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis; syndrome of qi and yin deficiency

coagulation of phlegm and fire; syndrome of liver and kidney yin-deficiency; syndrome of spleen and kidney yang-deficiency; syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis and phlegm coagulation. There was difference of different syndrome distribution in age

gender

thyroid function

and thyroxine level（ P < 0. 05

P < 0. 0125

P <0. 003125）. Conclusion Syndrome of spleen and kidney yang-deficiency is the most common syndrome in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients

followed by syndrome of stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis

syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency. The application of clinical prescription should not only smooth liver and promote qi circulation

activate blood regulation and remove stasis

but also warm and tonify spleen and kidney

tonify qi and yin

modified according to different syndrome

and treating both symptoms and root causes.