Successful Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Chronic Febricula Using the Traditional Japanese Medicine Shosaikoto

Numata, Tomohiro; Miura, Kazuki; Akaishi, Tetsuya; Arita, Ryutaro; Ishizawa, Kota; Saito, Natsumi; Sasaki, Hiroyo; Kikuchi, Akiko; Takayama, Shin; Tobita, Muneshige; Ishii, Tadashi

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.3218-19

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Qigong, a form of exercise with a concurrent emphasis on breath-work and meditation, has been shown to reduce symptoms of mental and physical fatigue as well as depression (57). Additionally, traditional Japanese medicine (shosaikoto-based treatment) has been reported to provide effective treatment of CFS in a pediatric patient (58). However, the efficacy of alternative medicine in CFS should be further explored as study design oftentimes could be improved (59).…”

Section: Conservative Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Update of the Current Understanding of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

et al. 2021

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: This is a comprehensive literature review of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We provide a description of the background, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management regarding CFS. CFS is a multifaceted illness that has many symptoms and a wide array of clinical presentations. As of recent, CFS has been merged with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Much of the difficulty in its management has stemmed from a lack of a concrete understanding of its etiology and pathogenesis. There is a potential association between dysfunction of the autoimmune, neuroendocrine, or autonomic nervous systems and the development of CFS. Possible triggering events, such as infections followed by an immune dysregulation resulting have also been proposed. In fact, ME/CFS was first described following Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infections, but it was later determined that it was not always preceded by EBV infection. Patient diagnosed with CFS have shown a noticeably earlier activation of anaerobic metabolism as a source of energy, which is suggestive of impaired oxygen consumption. The differential diagnoses range from tick-borne illnesses to psychiatric disorders to thyroid gland dysfunction. Given the many overlapping symptoms of CFS with other illnesses makes diagnosing it far from an easy task. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers it a diagnosing of exclusion, stating that self-reported fatigue for at minimum of six months and four of the following symptoms are necessary for a proper diagnosis: memory problems, sore throat, post-exertion malaise, tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes, myalgia, multi-joint pain, headaches, and troubled sleep. In turn, management of CFS is just as difficult. Treatment ranges from conservative, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressants, to minimally invasive management. Minimally invasive management involving ranscutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation of target points has demonstrated significant improvement in fatigue and associated symptoms in a 2017 randomized controlled study. The understanding of CFS is evolving before us as we continue to learn more about it. As further reliable studies are conducted, providing a better grasp of what the syndrome encompasses, we will be able to improve our diagnosis and management of it.

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Section: Conservative Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Update of the Current Understanding of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

et al. 2021

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“…A randomized controlled trial showed that hochuekkito, including saiko , can improve chronic inflammation, general malaise, appetite loss, and malnutrition . We also reported that shosaikoto, including saiko , improves myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome with chronic febricula . Medical insurance adaptation of hochuekkito, shigyakusan, shosaikoto, and yokukansan is listed in Table .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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

Takayama

Akaishi

Nozaki

et al. 2020

J of Gen and Family Med

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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.

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“…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.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbal medicine-induced multiple pulmonary pseudotumors

Takayama

Akaishi

Hanagama³

et al. 2020

J Family Med Prim Care

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Japanese herbal medicines (HMs) cause adverse drug reactions (ADRs); however, solid nodule formation is uncommon. In this report, we aimed to show that ADRs with HM can mimic lung cancer. A 63-year-old man complained of back pain. His physician prescribed a traditional Japanese HM, Keishikajutsubuto, which alleviated his symptoms. After 4 weeks, a chest radiograph showed multiple lung nodules that were absent 6 months earlier; the patient did not have cough, fever, or dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) showed multiple, bilateral lung nodules; however, blood tests and lung biopsy showed no abnormalities, ruling out interstitial pneumonia and lung cancer. Three months after the HM was discontinued, CT showed resolution of the lesions. Interstitial pneumonia was reported as a side effect of HM; however, no such side effect was reported for Keishikajutsubuto. When a patient presents with multiple lung nodules, a side effect of HM should be considered as a differential diagnosis.

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Successful Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Chronic Febricula Using the Traditional Japanese Medicine Shosaikoto

Cited by 4 publications

References 10 publications

A Comprehensive Update of the Current Understanding of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A Comprehensive Update of the Current Understanding of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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

Herbal medicine-induced multiple pulmonary pseudotumors

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