The Influence of Kampo Medicine on the Disease Activity in Forty-three Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

During a four-year period from 1994 to 1998, we treated 46 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with Kampo medicine. Clinical disease activity of RA was assessed using the Lansbury activity index (L. I.). After a year of treatment with Kampo medicine, 20 patients showed over 75% improvement by L. I Eleven cases were considered to be non-responders. Twenty-six cases out of 37 who had been treated with Western medicine were able to discontinue using, or reduce reliance upon, analgesic drugs and steroid hormones following Kampo treatment. Steinbrocker's functional classification of RA was improved from 2.3 to 1.8.<br>We used Aconiti Tuber for 40 patients, and 13 cases showed aconiti poisoning. Two cases represented adverse reactions to Astragali Radix.<br>In this study, Boi-ogi-to-ka-bushi was the most effective for RA, and Keishi-ka-ryo jutsubu-to was the second most effective. Efficacy of Boi-ogi-to was enhanced with large quantities of Sinomeni Caulis et Rhizoma and Astragali Radix. We mixed Boi-ogi-to with Keishi-ka-ryo jutsubu-to when Keishi-ka-ryo-jutsubu-to did not work well. RA is one of the representative diseases that respond to Kampo medicine.