A Pilot Study of Banxia Houpu Tang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, for Reducing Pneumonia Risk in Older Adults with Dementia

Abstract

Treatment with BHT reduced the risk of pneumonia and pneumonia-related mortality in elderly patients with dementia.

Traditional Chinese medicine therapy decreases the pneumonia risk in patients with dementia

“…In a previous observer-blinded, randomized, controlled trial, a significantly reduced aspiration pneumonia risk was observed after Ban-Xia-Hou-Po-Tangs (Pinellia and Officinal Magnolia Bark Decoction) treatment, with an adjusted hazard ratio slightly lower than that in the present study; [28] Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang (Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Licorice, and Gypsum Decoction) was reported to relieve the symptoms of chronic bronchitis [29] and lower respiratory tract infection. [30] It was indicated to protect influenza virus infection through inhibiting both viral RNA and protein synthesis, [31] and could reduce lung inflammation and inhibit virus replication in mice infected with respiratory syncytial virus.…”

“…[3] Further, vaccination, [4] correct posture, [5] and swallowing rehabilitation [6] have also been suggested to reduce the incidence of pneumonia. In addition, a prospective, observer-blinded, randomized controlled trial revealed Ban-Xia-Houpu-Tang (HangeKobokuTo in Japanese, English Name: Pinellia and Officinal Magnolia Bark Decoction) can reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia, [7] and follow-up studies confirmed it might improve the swallowing reflex in patients with dementia. [8] Further, an observational study found combined using traditional and western medicine might decrease the hospital stay length, body temperature, and white blood cell count compared with western medicine treatment only.…”

Aqueous Extract ofPaeonia lactifloraand Paeoniflorin as Aggregation Reducers Targeting Chaperones in Cell Models of Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3

“…Although Chinese herbs have been reported to reduce pneumonia risk in elderly patients with dementia [27] and regarded as a potential treatment of Huntington's disease (HD) [28], the attempts to apply this alternative treatment in SCA are still few. Okabe et al (2007) reported a patient with SCA6 was treated with a mixture of 18 medical herbs (modified Zhengan Xifeng Tang) and then the patient's ataxia was remarkably reduced [29].…”

The Potential Targets of Chinese Medicines in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease: Old Wine in New Bottles

“…With the deepening research of the pathological mechanism of PD, more and more Chinese and foreign scholars are concerned about a lot of Chinese medicine and its monomer composition in the mechanism of PD [10,11] …”