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Sunagawa M, Takayama Y, Kato M, Tanaka M, Fukuoka S, Okumo T, Tsukada M, Yamaguchi K. Kampo Formulae for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain ∼ Especially the Mechanism of Action of Yokukansan ∼. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:705023. [PMID: 34970116 PMCID: PMC8712661 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.705023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Kampo medicine has been practiced as traditional medicine (TM) in Japan. Kampo medicine uses Kampo formulae that are composed of multiple crude drugs to make Kampo formulae. In Japan, Kampo formulae are commonly used instead of or combined with Western medicines. If drug therapy that follows the guidelines for neuropathic pain does not work or cannot be taken due to side effects, various Kampo formulae are considered as the next line of treatment. Since Kampo formulae are composed of two or more kinds of natural crude drugs, and their extracts contain many ingredients with pharmacological effects, one Kampo formula usually has multiple effects. Therefore, when selecting a formula, we consider symptoms other than pain. This review outlines the Kampo formulae that are frequently used for pain treatment and their crude drugs and the basic usage of each component. In recent years, Yokukansan (YKS) has become one of the most used Kampo formulae for pain treatment with an increasing body of baseline research available. We outline the known and possible mechanisms by which YKS exerts its pharmacologic benefits as an example of Kampo formulae's potency and holistic healing properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masataka Sunagawa
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunori Takayama
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mami Kato
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Midori Tanaka
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiya Fukuoka
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Okumo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mana Tsukada
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kojiro Yamaguchi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
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