title: The traditional kampo medicine tokishakuyakusan increases ocular blood flow in healthy subjects.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of oral administration of kampo medical formulas on ocular blood flow (OBF). A crossover protocol was used to randomly administer five grams of yokukansan, tokishakuyakusan (TSS), keishibukuryogan, or hachimijiogan to 13 healthy blinded subjects (mean age: 37.3 ± 12.3 years). The mean blur rate, a quantitative OBF index obtained with laser speckle flowgraphy, was measured at the optic nerve head before and 30 minutes after administration. Blood pressure (BP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were also recorded. No significant changes were observed in mean BP or IOP after the administration of any of the kampo medical formulas. There was a significant increase in OBF 30 minutes after administration of TSS (100% to 103.6 ± 6.9%, P < 0.01). Next, TSS was administered to 19 healthy subjects (mean age: 32.0 ± 11.0 years) and OBF was measured before and 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after administration. Plain water was used as a control. OBF increased significantly after TSS administration compared to control (P < 0.01) and also increased from 30 to 60 minutes after administration compared to baseline (P < 0.05). These results suggest that TSS can increase OBF without affecting BP or IOP in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Education Center for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8575, Japan ; Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Taiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kokubun
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Himori
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Morin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, 1-847 Amanumacho, Omiya Ward, Saitama City 330-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanemura
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yaegashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazawa