title: A pilot study of the multiherb Kampo medicine bakumondoto for cough in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of bakumondoto, Kampo medicine, on cough in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 16-week, randomized, open-labeled, cross-over design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinics at one university hospital and two general hospitals in Japan from May 2007 to March 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four elderly patients (14 men and 9 women aged over 65) with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment with or without bakumondoto for 8 weeks in a cross-over design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measurements were the frequency and intensity of cough assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a daily cough diary. Secondary outcome measurements were quality of life (QOL) assessed using St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and lung functions measured using spirometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with bakumondoto significantly improved cough severity during the first treatment period (week 0 vs. week 8, p=0.004) and showed a trend to decrease during the second treatment period (week 8 vs. week 16, p=0.129) assessed by the VAS. Neither QOL nor lung function was affected by the treatment with bakumondoto.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bakumondoto may be effective in suppressing cough in elderly patients with COPD. To further confirm the efficacy, a larger and placebo-controlled study with objective cough assessment is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mukaida
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haruta
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Nobuoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C083181:bakumondo-to