Characteristics and course of patients treated with Kampo Medicine in the Department of General Medicine

Abstract

Background: A recent investigation reported that 92.7% Japanese family physicians have prescribed Kampo medicine (KM). KM can treat a wide variety of conditions from mental disorders to physical weaknesses. However, the characteristics and course of patients treated with KM at the Department of General Medicine remain unclear. Aims: To investigate the characteristics and course of patients treated with KM in our hospital. Methods: Data on medical history, complaints, course after Kampo treatment, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores were retrogradely collected. The background of patients who received Kampo treatment was compared to that of patients who did not.Result: Of 362 patients, 51 were treated with KM. Symptoms for which KM was prescribed included pain, general malaise, or sensory disturbance of extremities. All patients treated with KM were screened and initially diagnosed with a functional disorder or noncritical condition. KM including a crude drug of saiko such as hochuekkito, shigyakusan, shosaikoto, and yokukansan, was frequently prescribed for patients. Subjective symptoms showed improvement (53%) and no change (47%), while worsening was not observed in any patient. HAM-D scores showed that patients treated with KM had higher anxiety levels and related symptoms as well as a higher frequency of mental disorders prior to presenting at the hospital. Conclusion:Most complaints of the patients treated with KM were pain, general malaise, and sensory disturbance. KM is more likely to be prescribed in patients with health-related anxiety or a history of mental disorders. K E Y W O R D S characteristics, general medicine, herbal medicine, Japan, Kampo medicine | 49 TAKAYAMA eT Al.

Kampo medicine prescriptions for hospitalized patients in Tohoku University Hospital

“…A recent survey using National Health Care Claims revealed that outpatient Kampo prescriptions were much more frequent than inpatient prescriptions [4], and KKT, SST, and maoto, usually used for the common cold, were most frequently prescribed in an outpatient setting [19]. In the general medicine department in TUH, 14% of outpatients received KM, and 53% of the patients prescribed KM showed improvement after treatment [20].…”

Herbal medicine-induced multiple pulmonary pseudotumors

“…They also have opportunities to prescribe HMs or treat patients who have taken HMs in clinical practice. [ 10 11 12 13 14 ] If the patient started new drugs such as HMs before the appearance of lung lesions, an ADR should be one of the differential diagnoses. If physicians incidentally identify such multiple nodular lesions without clinical symptoms, systemic inflammation, or signs of malignancy in a patient, the history of drug use should be reviewed.…”

Tumor cell anabolism and host tissue catabolism-energetic inefficiency during cancer cachexia

“…247–249 Kampo formulae including Hochuekkito (HET), Juzentaihoto (JTT), Ninjin’yoeito (NYT), Seishoekkito (SET), Shosaikoto (SSK), and Rikkunshito (RKT) improved appetite, anemia, protein synthesis, ghrelin levels, and reduced protein breakdown, inflammation, and adipose tissue loss in various preclinical and clinical settings of CC. 248–259…”

“…[247][248][249] Kampo formulae including Hochuekkito (HET), Juzentaihoto (JTT), Ninjin'yoeito (NYT), Seishoekkito (SET), Shosaikoto (SSK), and Rikkunshito (RKT) improved appetite, anemia, protein synthesis, ghrelin levels, and reduced protein breakdown, inflammation, and adipose tissue loss in various preclinical and clinical settings of CC. [248][249][250][251][252][253][254][255][256][257][258][259] Recently, in December 2020, Japan approved anamorelin (non-peptide ghrelin analog) for cancer cachexia treatment based on phase II trials conducted in Japanese advanced gastrointestinal and lung cancer patients, creating the hope for the development of novel drugs. 208,260,261 In addition, physical exercise has shown beneficial effects, including reduced systemic inflammation, reduced catabolism, and preserving muscle mass in CC patients along with psychological stability.…”