Effects of Japanese herbal medicine, Juzen-taiho-to, in otitis-prone children – a preliminary study

Abstract

Medication compliance rate was 87.5%, and administration of JTT led to remission in 95.2% patients. No apparent side effects were observed. The frequency of AOM decreased significantly (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p=0.000) with JTT. The duration of fever (p=0.000) and administration of antibiotics (p=0.001), as well as the number of hospital visits (p=0.001) and emergent hospital visits (p=0.000) showed significant decreases after JTT administration. After the end of the JTT period, 14 of 21 (66.7%) patients started to take it again, as they experienced purulent otitis media and/or other infections after discontinuation. The frequency of AOM increased significantly after stopping JTT (p=0.004) and decreased again with JTT resumption (p=0.005).

The Long-Term Effects of a Kampo Medicine, Juzentaihoto, on Maintenance of Antibody Titer in Elderly People after Influenza Vaccination

“…JTT has been used as an adjunctive therapy for advanced breast cancer patients [16]. A recent report indicated that JTT aided in preventing the recurrence of otitis [17]. …”

“…Although no severe side effects have been reported for JTT [14, 17, 21]. In the early stage, many patients dropped out of JTT group in comparison with control group.…”

Uncovering potential ‘herbal probiotics’ in Juzen-taiho-to through the study of associated bacterial populations

“…15 JTT is used clinically in East Asia to strengthen the immune functions of patients with various diseases, including cancer, 16,17 hepatitis C, 18 and otitis. 19 The formulation is a mixture of ten different herbs (see Table S1 in Supplementary data). The active factors in JTT have not yet been clarified due to its chemical complexity.…”

Herbal medicines for the treatment of acute otitis media: protocol for a systematic review

“…AOM is defined as the presence of middle-ear effusion and the rapid onset of one or more signs or symptoms of middle-ear inflammation, such as an earache, ear rubbing, a bulging eardrum or fever 6. AOM can progress to recurrent AOM, otitis media with effusion or conditions that are more serious, such as mastoiditis, meningitis, cerebritis and sigmoid sinus thrombosis 7 8…”

“…Also, many types of herbal medicines have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, such as increasing the phagocytosis for clearing up an infection 8 19–21. However, it is unclear how they work, in spite of observed immunomodulatory properties.…”