Effectiveness of the herbal medicine daikenchuto for radiation-induced enteritis.
BACKGROUND
Radiation-induced enteritis is a serious clinical problem for which there is currently no recommended standard management. Daikenchuto (DKT) is a Japanese herbal medicine that has been used to treat adhesive bowel obstruction in Japan. This report describes a patient with radiation-induced enteritis whose clinical symptoms were much improved by treatment with DKT.


METHODS
The patient was administered DKT, a traditional Japanese herbal formula, orally (2.5 g 3 times daily). Abdominal distention was evaluated objectively with computed tomography.


RESULTS
Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with radiation-induced enteritis were controlled successfully with DKT treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
DKT treatment may be useful for the management of radiation-induced enteritis.
Takeda
Takashi
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. take@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kamiura
Shouji
S
Kimura
Tadashi
T
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004751:Enteritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D032106:Zanthoxylum; D030521:Zingiberaceae
D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; C121414:dai-kenchu-to