title: Traditional Japanese medicine, Yokukansan, for the treatment of nocturnal enuresis in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The major pathogenic factors involved in nocturnal enuresis are nocturnal polyuria, small bladder capacity and/or detrusor overactivity, and a high arousal threshold. Desmopressin is the first-line therapy for the patients with diuresis-dependent nocturnal enuresis. Yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, has been used in Japan to treat patients with nervousness, insomnia, and children with night terrors and temper tantrums. We experienced the positive effect of Yokukansan in some of the patients who did not respond well to desmopressin therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 32 children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis with nocturnal polyuria were treated with oral desmopressin melt tablets, which were approved for clinical use in Japan on 29 May 2012. This treatment was effective for 14 of them. For the rest (n = 18), Yokukansan was introduced in combination with desmopressin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Yokukansan was effective for 12 out of the 18 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yokukansan should be a candidate for the medication of nocturnal enuresis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Nerima Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Umino
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niijima
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujinaga
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D053206:Nocturnal Enuresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C524644:Yi-Gan San
keywords: Yokukansan; desmopressin; nocturnal enuresis