ABSTRACT
We report a case with an intractable jugular sense of discomfort, with dryness and nonproductive cough successfully treated with soshikokito. A 62-year-old Japanese man developed jugular sense of discomfort with dryness and nonproductive cough, after odontotherapy in October. Although he was treated with Western drugs by an otolaryngologist, under the diagnosis of xerostomia with no mechanical problems, his symptoms did not disappear. The symptoms followed a protracted course, and he further developed a loss of appetite. At the time of first visit in October, otorhinolaryngological studies showed no structural lesions or problems, with the exception of minimum salivation in the normal range on a gum test. There was no evidence of dry eyes. With the diagnosis of xerostomia, Bakumondoto-go-hangekobokuto was administered for a month but showed no sign of improvement. Making a shift to bukuryoin-go-hangekobokuto regained his appetite, but did not produce any improvement on dryness. We then utilized soshikokito under the interpretation that both dryness and nonproductive cough is ki-gyaku. The soshikokito therapy reduced his dryness in a month's time. Additionally, his nonproductive cough gradually decreased, and within 11 months after, he had no symptoms, regardless of a gradual medication withdrawal.