ABSTRACT
Squamous papilloma is a benign mass lesion of the oral mucosa. For papillomas of the tongue, surgery is recommended owing to their malignant potential; however, certain complications may be associated with surgery. A traditional Japanese (Kampo) herbal medicine, Keishibukuryogan-ka-yokuinin (KBGY), has been used to treat viral warts and various skin diseases in Japan. Therefore, the effect of KBGY on papillomas is promising. A 49-year-old Japanese man presented with a wart on his tongue that was about 3 months old. He smoked 5 cigarettes per day. He did not drink alcohol. He had no history of malignant illnesses. He was taking alprazolam for panic disorder. The patient was diagnosed with a suspected papilloma of the tongue at the Department of Otolaryngology and was advised to undergo an excision biopsy to exclude malignancy. However, he refused owing to the fear of an invasive procedure. After informed consent was obtained from the patient, KBGY was prescribed. Three months later, the wart on his tongue spontaneously prolapsed. The histopathological diagnosis was squamous papilloma. There was no indication of malignancy, and the patient discontinued Kampo treatment. He has had no recurrence in the past 3 years. KBGY is a combination of Keishibukuryogan and yokuinin (adlay seeds). Keishibukuryogan may be beneficial for skin or oral mucosal remodeling, and yokuinin may have antiviral properties. The present case report suggests the use of KBGY as an appropriate complementary therapy for squamous papilloma.
ABSTRACT
Kampo treatment is frequently effective for patients with acne vulgaris who are unresponsive to standard treatment with western medicine. We report two cases of acne vulgaris successfully treated with tokikenchuto. In the first case, a 32-year-old woman complained of mild acne, loose stool and menstrual pain. Her abdomen was soft and a pulsation above the navel was noted. These symptoms were considerably improved after taking tokikenchuto. In the second case, a 26-year-old woman presented with moderate acne, loose stool and menstrual pain with excessive strain of the abdominal muscles and objective tenderness on the sides of the abdomen. Kamishoyosan and tokishakuyakusan were first prescribed, although these caused bowel disturbances, and eventually tokikenchuto was prescribed, which improved the acne. We suggest tokikenchuto is effective for patients with mild to moderate acne who have bowel disturbance with soft abdomen or excessive strain of the abdominal muscles, which are considered indicators of gastrointestinal weakness. In addition, yokuinin has a synergistic effect in the treatment of acne.
ABSTRACT
Pulmonary atypical mycobacteriosis is a refractory pulmonary disease that has become resistant to the commonly used medicines. Here we report a case in which shakanzoto with yokuinin was useful in the treatment of bloody sputum caused by pulmonary atypical mycobacteriosis through Mycobacterium avium complex infection. An 86-year-old woman was diagnosed with pulmonary atypical mycobacteriosis four years before hospital admission because of repeated incidents of bloody sputum that had been unsuccessfully treated with stypsis. We administered shakanzoto with yokuinin, after which the bloody sputum disappeared rapidly. Although shakanzoto is usually prescribed for arrhythmia and cardioneurosis, our results suggest that shakanzoto is also useful for pulmonary diseases in which the pulse rate is irregular.
ABSTRACT
We analyzed the differences between responder and non-responder groups using Choyoto for hand eczema. In 7 cases the drug was effective, and in 6 cases it was not. Most patients in the effective group had white-complexioned skin, and the eczema tended to localize on the hands. In contrast, most patients in the non-effective group had with sleep difficulties and/or a smoking habit. In addition, they showed marked symptoms of Oketsu such as dark red gingiva, indicating that many of the non-effective hand eczema cases had elevated Oketsu scores. It was shown that objective and subjective symptoms could be indicators for the choosing of Choyoto for hand eczema treatment.
ABSTRACT
Leg cramps are frequently seen in patients who are undergoing hemodialysis. Syakuyaku-kanzo-to is usually effective against leg cramps, but not for all patients. On the other hand, Yokuinin, coix seed, has been known to restrain spasms of the frame muscle. This paper reports on the effectiveness of Yokuinin in controlling leg cramps during hemodialysis-especially when Shakuyaku-kanzo-to is not effective. Tests were performed on nine patients who have had maintenance hemodialysis in our hospital, and whose leg cramps were not responsive to Syakuyaku-kanzo-to. The patients were provided with three to six tablets of Yokuinin (Yokuinin extract tablet “Kotaro”) a day, and the effect on their leg cramps was measured after three weeks. Yokuinin was effective on five patients, whose leg cramps disappeared (an efficacy rate of 55.6%). Side effects were not observed. These results suggest that Yokuinin is a useful medicine (as part of a treatment regimen of traditional medicine) for leg cramps that result from hemodialysis-especially with patients for whom Shakuyaku-kanzo-to is not effective.
ABSTRACT
A 26-year-old woman who was diagnosed with mild SLE came to our hospital with the complaints about cutaneous eruptions on her face, head and back, as well as alopecia. We treated her with Sho-saiko-to-go-Oren-gedoku-to-ka-Yokuinin. After that, skin symptoms such as erythema, alopecia and photosensitivity disappeared, and an antinuclear antibody, which had shown 640 times at the first medical examination, became negative about two years later. In addition, the skin symptoms did not relapse and the antinuclear antibody rose very little even though the patient received no further medication for the next year. Our reseach found no other case reports of SLE whose antinuclear antibodies became negative only by Kampo treatment and who was treated with Sho-saiko-to-go-Oren-gedoku-to or its modified formulations.<br>Overall, it seemed to be an interesting case, and it suggests that Kampo medicine may be valuable in treating some cases of mild SLE, and may make steroid treatments unnecessary in the early stages of SLE before the diagnosis has been established.
ABSTRACT
Three children with eczema were administered Hochu-ekki-to added Yokuinin for one to four months. The clinical courses were as follows.<br>Case 1: A one-year-old boy with nummular eczema. He was prescribed several formulas in turn, but he failed to use any of them daily. Three months later he began taking Yokuinin-extracts everyday. This treatment was followed up with Yokuinin extracts added to Hochu-ekki-to. In the four months following treatment with Hochu-ekki-to added Yokuinin, the boy's eczema diminished and disappeared.<br>Case 2: A two-year-old boy with atopic dermatitis. We administered Hochu-ekki-to extracts on the second consultation day. He used the medicine nearly every day, but he showed little sign of improvement. After two weeks of treatment with Ma-kyo-yoku-kan-to extracts added to Hochu-ekki-to, skin eruptions diminished a little, but the patient complained and resisted treatment. So we changed the formula to Yokuinin extracts added to Hochu-ekki-to, which he took without any complaints. Skin eruptions diminished and disappeared.<br>Case 3: A four-year-old girl with atopic dermatitis. She was administered Hochu-ekki-to added Yokuinin and Kyonin, because she was constipated. In the following four weeks skin eruptions diminished and her bowel movements improved.<br>It is difficult for children to go on taking the Kampo formulas regularly. Hochu-ekki-to is one of the most common prescriptions for atopic dermatitis and is easy to take compared to other formulas. Adding Yokuinin to Hochu-ekki-to improves its taste and supplements its efficacy.
ABSTRACT
We report on three RA patients successfully treated with Yokuinin-to-ka-kyokatsu-dokkatsu-bofu (Yokuinin-to-kami). The first patient was a 47-year-old woman. In 1983, she visited a nearby hospital due to bilateral wrist joint pain. Her condition was diagnosed as RA. She was treated with gold sodium thiomalate (GST) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but her symptoms did not improve. She visited our department in 1989. She was treated with Keishi-ka-ryojutsubu-to, Bushi-to which resulted in decreased arthralgia. However, in September 1995, her condition worsened. Administration of Yokuinin-to-kami improved her symptoms as well as her laboratory data after three months of treatment. The second patient was a 50-year-old woman. In 1986, she visited a nearby hospital with bilateral wrist joint pain. Several Kampo formulas were subsequently administered at a pharmacy. In 1991, she visited our hospital and her condition improved after treatment with Keishi-ka-ryojutsu-to-ka-boi-ogi-yokuinin. However, in May 1996, she complained of severe pain and swelling at the right shoulder joint. Treatment with Yokuinin-to-kami improved her symptoms, as well as decreased serum C-reactive protein (CRP). The third case involved a 42-year-old woman who exhibited polyarthralgia in June 1991. She visited a neighborhood hospital and was diagnosed as having RA. She was treated with NSAIDs and bucillamine. She first visited our hospital in1993. We treated her with Keishi-ni-eppi-itto-ka-ryojutsubu and Keishi-shakuyaku-timo-to, but the polyarthralgia worsened in May 1996. Subsequently, we treated her with Yokuinin-to-kami which resulted in improvement symptoms, as well as decreased serum CRP.<br>To identify the target group for Yokuinin-to-kami, we further analyzed the characteristics of the patients successfully treated with this formula. Yokuinin-to-kami was administered to nine patients with RA, and the symptoms in five patients improved, but the remaining patients did not respond. The score of stasis of body fluids and deficiency of blood was not considerably different between the two groups. Interestingly, there was a difference in the variation of joint symptoms throughout the day. Namely, the successfully treated patients complained of joint symptom in the evening more than in the morning. These observations suggest that Yokuinin-to-kami is a useful agent for the treatment of a subset of patients with RA, and that joint pain in the evening might be an indicator for this treatment.
ABSTRACT
Yokuinin, coix seed extract, has been used to regulate gastric functions and to reduce pathological water retention. This paper reports the effect of Yokuinin on controlling hydrarthrosis for patients with arthralgia. Seventeen patients who have had maintenance hemodialisis for an average of 12.7 years and who have suffered hydrarthrosis with arthralgia have been tested. There are 7 male and 10 female patients, with an average of age of 63.4. The hydrarthrosis of the patients resulted from dialysis arthropathy and gonarthrosis. The patients were provided with 3 to 6 tablets of Yokuinin (Yokuinin extract tablet “Kotaro”) a day, and the effect on hydrarthrosis was measured after 3 weeks. The dosage of Yokuinin was 0.33g in 3 tablets. Yokuinin was effective on 14 patients (hydrarthrosis was reduced), relatively effective on 2 patients, and not effective on one patient. This shows an efficacy rate of 82.8%. Arthralgia was reduced for 12 patients, and analgesia was seen in 3 patients. Effective reduction of hydrarthrosis by this medicine was observed: 5 cases out of 6 for patients with dialysis arthropathy (83.3%); 6 cases out of 7 for gonarthrosis (85.7%); and 3 cases of 4 for other diseases (75.0%)—a total of 82.8%. The patient for whom the drug was not effective was suffering from acute hydrarthrosis. Side effects were not observed except for indigestion and cramps. These results suggest that Yokuinin is an effective medicine to control hydrarthrosis with arthralgia for patients under hemodialysis.
ABSTRACT
Rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA rats) show obvious inhibition of the local inflammation when steroids (DXM) are administered. But the contraction of thymic or adrenal atrophy, spleen hypertrophy, and reduction of activity of serum dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV are recognized. In rats where Sokei-kakketsu-to or Yokuinin-to was administered, prominent anti-inflammatory effects like dexamethasone were not found; however the contraction of thymic or adrenal atrophy, spleen hypertrophy, and reduction of activity of serum dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV was not recognized. In addition, after withdrawal of drugs, rebound in regional joints did not occurr as with steroids, and the reducing effect for arthrocele was prolonged. Therefore, it was concluded that those two formulations have an effect on the immune system —with anti-inflammatory effects for AA rats— and these action mechanisms are different from that of steroids (DXM).
ABSTRACT
The hematological effects of Sokeikakketsu-to, Yokuinin-to, Keisi-ka-jutsubsu-to, Eppi-ka-jutsu-to, and Sairei-to observed on the AA rats were investigated. The time course of blood count and albumin, sialic acid and acid-soluble glycoprotein in the serum whs. were measured. Sokeikakketsu-to had the strongest anti-inflammatory effect on the improvement of Inflammatory Index Substances, platelets, and the Arthritis Score for changes in synovitis. Yokuinin-to was also effective. When these Kampo medicines were administered in the early stages of AA, Sokeikakketsu-to improved the AA signficantly. The results may suggest that Sokeikakketsu-to works for the control of autoimmunity. On the other hand, Keisi-ka-jutsubu-to aggravated the AA when it was administered in the early stages of the AA.
ABSTRACT
The effects of Sokei-kakketsu-to, Yokuinin-to, Keisi-ka-zyutsubu-to, Eppi-ka-jutsu-to, and Saireito extracts on Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats were investigated. After administering AA, we measured the volume of rat hindpaw as the inflammation index, and observed the changes of synovitis histologically. Each extract showed different effects on AA rats. Yokuinin-to and Sokei-kakketsu-to had remarkable effects on inflammation and changed the histological observations of synovitis. Eppi-ka-jutsu-to also had effects on the uninjected hindpaw, but Keisi-ka-jutsubu-to and Sairei-to had no effect on hindpaw inflammation, nor did they change synovitis histologically.
ABSTRACT
Oral administration of Yokuinin-to was added to the previous drugs in 4 patients with psoriatic arthritis. All of the cases responded to the therapy without adverse effects. In 3 of 4 cases, the previous drugs, i. e, corticosteroids, etretinate, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), were able to be discontinued after the beginning of the Yokuinin-to therapy. The remainder had favorable control of arthralgia with Yokuinin-to alone. During the course of the therapy, there were no considerable changes in skin eruption in all 4 cases. We consider Yokuinin-to one of the first drugs of choice in the treatment of arthralgia in patients with psoriatic arthritis.