Effectiveness of kampo medicine (sai-boku-to) in treatment of patients with glossodynia

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a Kampo medicine (Sai-boku-to) for treatment of patients with glossodynia.

Study design: Sai-boku-to or an antianxiety drug (diazepam) with vitamin B complex was administered orally for 3 months to each of 200 patients with glossodynia. Clinical examination evaluated the following subjective symptoms: pain, burning sensation, and discomfort. Effectiveness was evaluated as follows: "markedly effective," all 3 symptoms disappeared; "effective," pain improved; "ineffective," no improvement in pain.

Results: The effective rates were 70% after 1 month, 85% after 2 months, and 92% after 3 months of administration of Sai-boku-to (the Kampo group) and 74% after 1 month, 71% after 2 months, and 69% after 3 months of administration of the antianxiety drug with vitamin B complex (the control group). No significant side effect was noted in the Kampo group, but sleepiness was recorded in 33 cases in the control group.

Conclusions: The results indicate that Sai-boku-to may be a clinically useful medicine for the long-term treatment of patients with glossodynia.