title: Traditional Japanese medicine daikenchuto improves functional constipation in poststroke patients.
abstract: Poststroke patients with functional constipation, assessed by the Rome III criteria, from 6 hospitals were recruited in a study on the effects of the traditional Japanese medicine Daikenchuto (DKT) on constipation. Thirty-four patients (17 men and 17 women; mean age: 78.1 ± 11.6 years) were randomly assigned to 2 groups; all patients received conventional therapy for constipation, and patients in the DKT group received 15 g/day of DKT for 4 weeks. Constipation scoring system (CSS) points and the gas volume score (GVS) (the measure of the intestinal gas volume calculated from plain abdominal radiographs) were recorded before and after a 4-week observation period. The total score on the CSS improved significantly in the DKT group compared to the control (P < 0.01). In addition, scores for some CSS subcategories (frequency of bowel movements, feeling of incomplete evacuation, and need for enema/disimpaction) significantly improved in the DKT group (P < 0.01, P = 0.049, and P = 0.03, resp.). The GVS was also significantly reduced in the DKT group compared to the control (P = 0.03). DKT in addition to conventional therapy is effective in treating functional constipation in poststroke patients. This study was a randomized controlled trial and was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trial Registry (no. UMIN000007393).
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan ; Department of Kampo Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.affiliation: Department of Kampo Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan ; Comprehensive Education Center for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.affiliation: National Yonezawa Hospital, 26100-1 Oh-Aza Misawa, Yonezawa City, Yamagata 992-1202, Japan.
authors.forename: Muneshige
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tobita
authors.affiliation: Ishinomaki Rehabilitation Hospital, 1-2-21 Kadonowaki-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi 986-0834, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Miyagi Rifu Ekisaikai Hospital, 51 Morigo Aza Shintaishido, Rifu Town, Miyagi 981-0103, Japan.
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katayose
authors.affiliation: Hikarigaoka Spellman Hospital, 6-7-1 Higashi-Sendai, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 983-0833, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shinkawa
authors.affiliation: National Hachinohe Hospital, 3-13-1 Fukiage, Hachinohe City, Aomori 031-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.affiliation: Wakuya Medical and Welfare Center, 278 Wakuya Aza Nakakonan, Wakuya Town, Miyagi 987-0121, Japan.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aonuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan ; Department of Kampo Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 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, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanemura
authors.affiliation: Center for Traditional Asian Medicine and Home Healthcare, Southern Tohoku General Hospital, 1-2-5 Satonomori, Iwanuma City, Miyagi 989-2483, Japan.
authors.forename: Koh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Kampo Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan ; Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 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, 2-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yaegashi
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