A Case of Anorexia Successfully Treated with Byakkokaninjinto / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

Traditional western medical diagnosis and treatment strategies for a patient with persistent anorexia and weight loss failed to yield any positive results, and thus we changed to an eastern treatment modality employ­ing the use of byakkokaninjinto, which resulted in successful treatment of the anorexia and its associated symptoms. An 83-­year-­old man presenting with phlegm and anorexia visited our hospital. Upon examination, we iden­tified subpleural ground-­glass and reticular opacities via chest CT. The patient was diagnosed with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia in the outpatient setting. Due to persistent anorexia and weight loss, we conducted thor­ough examinations of gastrointestinal system to supplement our overall workup ;however, the cause of the anorexia could not be identified. Meanwhile the patient lost 30 kg within a span of 6 months and was hospital­ized. He failed to present with any neurological disorders, collagen/endocrine disease or mental illnesses. A full systemic review was unable to identify the cause of the underlying anorexia but we focused on the pa­tient's complaint of coldness in the neck, upper limbs, ankles/feet and abnormal warmth in the forehead, which made him seek and ingest cold foods. Given these findings, we have established an eastern medical diagnosis for the anorexia as ketsugyaku, netsuketsu and initiated treatment using byakkokaninjinto. After starting a regimen of byakkokaninjinto, the patient noticed increased dietary intake and the various cold and heat sensa­tions distributed throughout his body dissipated. Assuming an open stance on adopting traditional Chinese medical practice into anorexia treatment could prove valuable in certain cases.