title: Effects of Daikenchuto on Abdominal Bloating Accompanied by Chronic Constipation: A Prospective, Single-Center Randomized Open Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Daikenchuto (DKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, is widely used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of DKT for abdominal bloating in patients with chronic constipation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DKT for the treatment of abdominal bloating.
  
  
  METHODS
  After discontinuing as-needed use of laxatives, 10 patients received oral DKT for 14 days (15 g/d). To evaluate small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO), a glucose breath test was performed before and after treatment with DKT. Before beginning the treatment, 4 patients (40%) had a diagnosis of SIBO based on a positive glucose breath test result. In both the SIBO and non-SIBO groups, bowel movement frequency and stool form remained unchanged after DKT treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all patients, median total Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale score and the median Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale indigestion and constipation subscales were significantly decreased, whereas the median visual analog score for decreased abdominal bloating was significantly increased. Improvements of those symptoms were the same in both the SIBO and non-SIBO groups, indicating that DKT does not have effects on small intestine bacteria. No serious side effects were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DKT treatment improved quality of life for patients with chronic constipation regardless of the presence of SIBO and showed no effects on small intestine bacteria. UMIN Clinical Trial Registry identifier: UMIN000008070.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Goichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uno
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Izumo City General Medical Center, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shizuku
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University, School of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
keywords: abdominal bloating; chronic constipation; daikenchuto; small intestinal bacterial overgrowth