Traditional Japanese herbal medicines for treatment of odontopathy

Abstract

This article highlights several refractory oral diseases, such as stomatitis, burning mouth syndrome (BMS), glossalgia, atypical facial pain (AFP), oral cancer, dry mouth, and Sjögren's syndrome (SJS), in which use of Japanese herbal medicines, Kampo medicines (KM), on the basis of Kampo theory could exert the maximum effects on human body. (1) In acute stomatitis, heat because of agitated vital energy may affect the head, chest, and middle abdominal region. Stomatitis is also related to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). There are many antioxidants in the crude extracts of KM. Thus, we can control environmental factors (cold, heat, dampness, dryness) and vital energy, blood, and fluid of the organ systemically using KM to treat stomatitis and eliminate local ROS accumulation. (2) BMS, glossalgia, and AFP are multifactorial syndromes involving the interaction of biological and psychological factors. Local temperature decrease and edema often occur in chronic pain. These are local circulatory disturbances that can be resolved by improving the flow of blood and fluid. Several KM, such as Tokishakuyakusan and Kamishoyosan (KSS), are effective for enhancing peripheral circulation. Those such as Saikokaryukotuboreito, Yokukansan, KSS, and Saibokutou can reduce stress and associated pain by altering glutamatergic and monoaminergic transmission in the brain. The clinical efficacy of KM for BMS and AFP may depend on the regulation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic and descending glutamatergic pain modulation systems. (3) Regarding oral cancer treatment, I introduce four possible applications of KM, inhibition of the proliferation of cancer cells, complementation of the main cancer therapy, reduction of side effect caused by the main anti-cancer therapy and improvement of quality of life such as the overall status and/or oral discomfort. This review explains in more details Hozai such as Hochuekkito (HET), Juzendaihoto, and Ninjinyoeito (NYT) that are frequently used to improve both immunosuppression and deficiencies of Ki, Ketsu, and Sui in oral cancer patients. (4) Heat- and cold-dryness stages exist in dry mouth and SJS. Byakkokaninjinto is useful for heat-dryness, while NYT, Bakumondoto, and HET have moisturizing effects in the cold-dryness stage. Thus, Kampo therapy is useful for many oral diseases that cannot be cured by western medicine.

Paeonol, an Ingredient of Kamishoyosan, Reduces Intracellular Lipid Accumulation by Inhibiting Glucocorticoid Receptor Activity in 3T3-L1 Cells

“…Kamishoyosan (KSS, Chinese name: Jiaweixiaoyaosan, Korean name: Gamisoyosan) is a complex drug composed of 10 herbs. It is prescribed for climacteric disorder, dysmenorrhea, neurosis, and in cancer supportive therapy [18,19]. Hormones and cytokines released from adipocytes are involved in the aggravation of diseases for which KSS is prescribed [20][21][22][23][24].…”

Yokukansan, a Kampo medicine, prevents the development of morphine tolerance through the inhibition of spinal glial cell activation in rats

“… 7 YKS has been administered to patients who show symptoms such as emotional irritability, neurosis, and insomnia and to infants who suffer from night crying and convulsions 8 . However, YKS has also recently been reported to be effective against pain disorders, such as headache, post-herpetic neuralgia, fibromyalgia, and trigeminal neuralgia 9, 10. Previous studies have demonstrated the antinociceptive effects of YKS in mice models with visceral pain 11 and rat models with chronic constriction injury 12, 13.…”

Effectiveness of Kampo Medicines Against Intractable Stomatitis: A Mini-Review

“…Although the etiopathogenesis of intractable stomatitis has not been established, some type of immune-mediated pathogenesis and pathological roles of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been considered [4][5][6]9,10] . It is not known how KMs act against intractable stomatitis, but many KMs have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity that may be involved in this action [8,10,11] . Inchinkoto contains the following herbal extracts: Artemisia capillaris flower, gardenia fruit, and rhubarb.…”

“…Orento contains the following herbal extracts: pinellia tuber, coptis rhizome, processed ginger, glycyrrhiza, jujube, ginseng, and cinnamon bark. Coptis rhizome, glycyrrhiza, scutellaria root, and cinnamon bark have anti-inflammatory activity [10,13,26,27] . More specifically, cinnamon bark blocks the activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) known as Extracellular-Signal-Regulated Kinases (ERKs), cJun NH2-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 MAPKs [28] , and the use of cinnamon bark resulted in a reduction of TNF-α expression [28] .…”