Shoyogan improves dietary intake in severely anorexic patients with malignant or non‐malignant disease

Abstract

Aim Shoyogan is a Kampo medicine originally introduced as early as the 2nd century AD in Jin Gui Yao Lue. Clinical evidence of its efficacy, however, is lacking. Here, we show that shoyogan improves dietary intake in severely anorexic patients with a wide range of malignant or non‐malignant diseases. Methods We retrospectively analyzed effectiveness of this medicine in 79 severely anorexic patients (31 with malignant disease and 48 with non‐malignant disease) following oral shoyogan treatment, and analyzed the percentage of supplied food eaten by 16 anorexic inpatients according to medical records. Results In 28 severely anorexic patients with malignant disease, 18 (64%) had increased dietary intake following shoyogan treatment. In particular, 11 out of 14 patients (79%) with pulmonary cancer had increased dietary intake following treatment. Further, among 43 severely anorexic patients with non‐malignant disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and liver cirrhosis, 32 patients (74%) had increased dietary intake. In the initial 9 days of oral shoyogan treatment, the average dietary intake of 16 anorexic inpatients (7 with malignancy and 9 without) was significantly improved from 25% of the supplied amount before medication to 44% on the second day, and reached 55% on the eighth day. Conclusions Although the active component(s) of shoyogan have not been identified, this Kampo medicine may be useful in the care of aged and terminally ill patients.