The Effects of Kampo Therapy on Throat Discomfort in Patients with Autonomic Nervous Disfunction / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of three Kampo formulas expected to be effective for AST (abnormal sensation in the throat) and AND (autonomic nervous dysfunction) was evaluated. The Kampo formulas used were Hange-koboku-to (Ban xia hou pu tang), Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (Chai hu jia long gu mu li tang) and Saiboku-to (Chai pu tang). The subjects involved in this study were 165 patients who complained of AST and were classified by the Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaire as having AND or AND+N (neurotic condition). The results were then compared with those obtained with Ethyl Loflazepate (an anti-anxiety drug), Tofisopam (a deriv-ative of 2, 3-benzodiazepines) and psychotherapy.<br>Therapy was considered ‘effective’ if a subjective 50% or greater reduction in AST was achieved. The evaluation after two weeks of each therapy revealed that Tofisopam was most effective in both the AND and AND+N type patients. The Kampo drugs seemed to be slightly superior or equal in effectiveness to Ethyl Loflazapate in the treatment of AND+N type patients, but not in the treatment of patients with AND alone.