| Theme |
Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders Using Traditional Japanese Herbal Medicine : Present Status and Future Prospects |
| Title |
Daikenchuto and Postoperative Ileus |
| Author |
Toru Kono |
Advanced Surgery Center, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Kampo is gaining a measure of recognition in the modern medical community through validation by scientific evidence. This acceptance is driven in part by molecular studies elucidating the pharmacologic mechanisms of daikenchuto. These studies have identified neurotransmitters involved in intestinal motility. They have also identified the active constituents of Japanese pepper and dried ginger which mobilize the endogenous calcitonin family of peptides and bring about serotonin release from intestinal epithelial cells, which improves blood flow and motility. They thereby intervene in the postoperative inflammatory cascade. Moreover, the results of these studies have lead to a number of double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in the United States and Japan to determine the effects of daikenchuto on accelerating intestinal motility. In addition, pharmacokinetic studies have revealed that the active constituents of Japanese pepper and dried ginger are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and enter the bloodstream. The administration of daikenchuto during early postoperative periods represents a potential advance in the management of postoperative ileus. |