ABSTRACT
We report a case of an anorectic 71-year-old male post-gastrectomy patient who was successfully treated with Koso-san and Rikkunshi-to. The patient underwent resection for early gastric cancer (0-IIa+IIc). After partial gastrectomy, he suffered from nausea and vomiting. He was treated with endoscopic balloon dilatation at the anastomotic site, and was simultaneously treated with some western drugs. However, he was completely unable to eat because of nausea and vomiting. Oriental medicine was then recommended. We treated him with Kampo medicines in combination with parenteral nutrition. After the administration of Koso-san, his nausea and vomiting disappeared immediately and he could ingest a fluid diet. Further, after the administration of Koso-san and Rikkunshi-to, his food intake increased. Finally, he could eat ordinary meals and his food intake reached an adequate level. This suggests that Koso-san and Rikkunshi-to are useful in the treatment of anorectic patients after gastrectomy.
ABSTRACT
During the administration of Rikkunshi-to, hematological findings and complications of underlying disease were examined in patients with refractory anemia treated with oral iron preparations. In all 11 evaluative cases, hemoglobin levels before the administration of Rikkunshi-to were 10.7±0.8g/dL, and 11.5±0.8g/dL post-administration (mean administration period 17.3±11.6 months), indicating a significant hemoglobin level increase. In 9 out of 11 cases (82%), an improvement in anemia was observed. Eight out of 11 cases (73%) had atrophic gastritis, reflux esophagitis, or other gastrointestinal disease complications. Rikkunshi-to is considered to be effective such factors as: an improvement in hematopoiesis through a promotion of DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells with prostisol; and an improvement in iron absorption and utilization with improving appetite, although, the exact mechanisms have yet to be elucidated.<br>In conclusion, Rikkunshi-to can be considered an appropriate medication for the improvement of refractory anemia treated with the administration of oral iron preparations. However, its mechanism of action, as well as its recommended administration for specific disease states remain important issues for the future.
ABSTRACT
The effects of four Kampo medicines, Ninjin-to, Hange-shashin-to, Rikkunshi-to and Sho-hange-ka-bukuryo-to, were investigated in a rat model of postoperative ileus. The postoperative ileus model was made by incising the abdomen and exposing the small intestine and caecum for five minutes under ether anesthesia. The gastrointestinal transit was estimated by the migration of a charcoal marker. In contrast to the animals anesthetized only, the gastrointestinal transit was markedly decreased in control animals. First, we studied the gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs (cisapride, mosapride and metoclopramide), the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin, and the Kampo medicine Dai-kenchu-to in this model. They significantly increased the transit as compared with the control. Using the same method, Rikkunshi-to and Sho-hange-ka-bukuryo-to were demon-strated to be almost inactive. However, Ninjin-to and Hange-shashin-to not only significantly improved the gastrointestinal mobility compared to the control, but also showed stronger effects than those of Dai-kenchu-to. These results suggest that in addition to Dai-kenchu-to, Ninjin-to and Hange-shashin-to are also effective Kampo medicines for postoperative ileus.
ABSTRACT
Five patients in the acute stage of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of the hand were treated with Sairei-to and Rikkunshi-to, and were evaluated for pain (visual analog scale: VAS), swelling and limitation of finger motion. Four of the five patients had good results, with a decrease in pain to less than 50% of initial pain on VAS within six weeks. Swelling and finger motion tended to improve earlier than pain. In general, symptoms of RSD are limited to those associated with local inflammation during the acute stage, but patients with RSD tend to have psychological factors that can trigger generalized complaints even before the onset of RSD and to feature ‘kikyo, ’ a loss of vitality, after RSD onset. RSD should therefore be recognized as one feature of a generalized disease. Oral Kampo therapy using Sairei-to and Rikkunshi-to appears to be a reasonable treatment for early RSD.
ABSTRACT
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disease and is caused by a blood antiplatelet antibody that reacts to thrombocyte membrane. The platelet associated immunoglobulin G (PAIgG) is admitted in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.<br>Adrenocortical steroids are our first choice as a treatment for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.<br>However, a sufficient thrombocyte increase is not obtained even when adrenocortical steroids are administered to the idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patient.<br>On the other hand, we use Kampo medicine widely clinically. We are admitting the effectiveness of Kampo medicine in treating many refractory diseases. Even if it corresponds to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura that is one of a chronic refractory disease effective Kampo medicine is reorted several Kampo pharmaceutical preparations that are assumed when it is effective in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura are Sairei-to, Sho-saiko-to, Kami-kihi-to, etc.<br>This time we carried out Kampo therapy (Rikkunshi-to, Shimatsu-to) on patients with digestive and cutaneous problems but no other symptoms of hemopathy. A blood specialist at this university hospital tentatively diagnosed the patients' condition as thrombocytopenic purpura. Kampo therapy increased the thrombocyte count and alleviated the symptoms.<br>This result might suggest the possibility of a therapy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and even the importance of the therapy in accordance with the oriental medical syndromes.
ABSTRACT
The effects of Rikkunshi-to (Liu jun zi tang), Hochu-ekki-to (Bu zhong yi qi tang), and Hange-shashin-to (Ban xia xie xin tang) on morphological changes in the small intestinal mucosa of mice with age were observed. The results indicated that Rikkunshi-to and Hochu-ekki-to had a beneficial effect on intestinal mucosal changes in 36-weeks-old mice. In particular, the improvement of the absorptive area of the intestinal villi and microvilli depending on the concentration of medicine was found. Ninjin-yoei-to had a strong effect on aged mice of 50 and 70 weeks. The morphology and absorptive function were significantly improved.
ABSTRACT
Oren-to was orally administered to 18 patients with acute aphthous stomatitis, followed by an examination of the results. As a control, the natural course of the condition was observed without treatment in five patients, and local application of oral steroid ointment (dexarutin ointment for the oral cavity; 0.1%) was given to an additional five patients.<br>Compared with the control groups, the number of days until the disappearance of pain as well as the attainment of a complete cure was reduce significantly in the Oren-to group. When Oren-to was abministerad to two patients with chronic recurrent stomatitis, transient remission of the symptoms was noted, as in the acute Stomatitis cases, but the condition recurred. In one case, Oren-to was continued for one month but proved ineffective; replacement with Rikkushi-to brought about a disappearance of the condition after one week of treatment. In another patient, the condition was cured after administration of Oren-to for four months, and has not recurred to date.<br>These findings suggest that Oren-to is useful in the treatment of aphthous stomatitis, especially in the acute phase.