Multicenter, randomized controlled trial of traditional Japanese medicine, kakkonto with shosaikotokakikyosekko, for mild and moderate coronavirus disease patients

Abstract

The traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine, kakkonto with shosaikotokakikyosekko, has antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. In this randomized trial, patients with mild and moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were randomly allocated to the control group receiving conventional treatment for symptom relief such as antipyretics and antitussives or the Kampo group receiving mixed extract granules of kakkonto (2.5 g) and shosaikotokakikyosekko (2.5 g) three times a day for 14 days in addition to conventional treatment. The main outcome was the number of days until total symptom relief. The secondary outcome was the number of days until each symptom’s relief and whether the disease progressed to respiratory failure. We enrolled a total of 161 patients (Kampo group, n = 81; control group, n = 80). The results from Kaplan–Meier estimates of symptom relief showed that there are no significant differences between the groups. However, covariate-adjusted cumulative incidence of fever relief considering competitive risk showed that the recovery was significantly faster in the Kampo group than in the control group (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03–3.01). Additionally, the risk of disease progression to moderate COVID-19 requiring oxygen inhalation was lower in the Kampo group than in the control group (Risk Difference −0.13, 95% CI −0.27–0.01). No significant drug-related side effects were observed. Kakkonto with shosaikotokakikyosekko is effective for fever relief with suppression of disease progression in COVID-19 patients.Clinical Trial Registration:https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs021200020, identifier [jRCTs021200020]

Treatment Experience of Shoseiryuto in Nine Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pregnant Women: A Telephone Consultation - Second Report

“…While some papers have described the effectiveness of Kampo for the treatment of COVID-19, very few reports are available regarding administering Kampo to pregnant women infected with the virus [2][3][4]11]. Although Kampo has been established for at least 1800 years, the safety of Kampo in pregnant women remains uncertain.…”

“…Kampo is a cost-effective and safe medication that is covered by insurance in Japan. Several studies regarding the treatment of COVID-19 with Kampo medicine have previously been published [2][3][4]. In a previous study, we have also reported a methodology and cases of the effectiveness of shoseiryuto (SST) in treating pregnant women infected with COVID-19 [5].…”

A Case of COVID-19 Successfully Treated with Minocycline and Saiko-Keishi-To

“…In fact, three cases of COVID-19 pneumonia were successfully treated with SKT in combination with other drugs [3]. Very recently, treatment with kakkon-to, and sho-saiko-to-ka-kikyo-sekko that contains saikosaponin as a component, was reported to be effective for fever relief with suppression of disease progression in COVID-19 patients [11]. Therefore, Kampo medicines other than SKT, that contain saikosaponin, could be efficacious against COVID-19.…”

Kampo medicine for COVID‐19 prevention, treatment, and recovery in clinical and pharmacological aspect

“…In COVID-19-confirmed patients, the risk of illness worsening in the Kampo group tended to be lower than that in the non-Kampo group after adjusting the staging of COVID-19, and within four days from the onset it was significantly lower in the Kampo group than in the non-Kampo group. In the RCT, patients with mild and moderate COVID-19 were randomly allocated to the control group receiving conventional treatment for symptom relief such as antipyretics and antitussives, or the Kampo group receiving mixed extract granules of kakkonto and shosaikotokakikyosekko in addition to conventional treatment [5]. In all, 161 patients were randomly assigned to the Kampo group (n = 81) or the control group (n = 80).…”