Volume 13, Number 2 | Summer 2018

Type 1 Case of Yasui Classification
Two Cases of Childhood Bronchial Asthma Successfully
Treated with Shokenchuto and Ogikenchuto

Izumi Kimoto
Hirose Clinic

In recent years, inhaled steroids or leukotriene
receptor antagonists have been used as a basis firstline therapy for the treatment of mild bronchialasthma in children. On the other hand, most cases ofbronchial asthma attack or asthmatic bronchitis inchildren occur on the occasion of respiratory tract
infection, including common colds. Thus, in ourexperience, the asthma attacks of children improved
without

inhaledsteroids

orleukotriene

antagonist therapy, when the frequency of common
colds or respiratory tract infection is reduced.
On this occasion I would like to present a case ofasthmatic child who was effectively treated with
Kampo medicines (shokenchuto and ogikenchuto)
alone.

theconditionof

hisasthmaandconstitutional infirmity before the initiation of firstline therapy according the guidelines. At two months
after the initiation of shokenchuto treatment, hiswhile his asthma attacks or mild wheezing that werepreviously triggered by respiratory tract infection orfatigue decreased. Six months later, his asthma
attacks apparently disappeared. At one year after
theinitiationof

shokenchuto

treatment,

hisinfirmity and digestive function improved, and his
asthma cured and shokenchuto was withdrawn. The
patient did not experience a recurrence of asthma
attacks.
[Case 2: A 1 year old boy]
Past history: Nothing particular, normal vaginal
delivery, birth weight, 3076 g.
Current clinical history: From age 0, the patient had
frequent wheezing when he developed a cold and wasdiagnosed with infantile asthma at age 1 year and 7
months of age. When he caught a cold, he wheezed,[Case 1: A 6 year old boy]
Past history: Nothing particular
Current clinical history: The patient was diagnosed
with bronchial asthma at 3 years of age. He oftencaught colds and presented mild wheezing several
times per month. Sometimes exercise triggered anasthma attack. The patient had a poor appetite andbecame tired easily. He had a so-called weak
constitution. This did not improve even when takingsaibokuto or shoseiryuto extract.
Present condition: Height, 115 cm; Body weight, 18 kg.
Pulse: Both slightly floating and thin, rapid.
Tongue: Slightly red, and white coated. Abdomen:
Tightened rectus abdominis, and ticklish.
Clinical course:
The severity of his asthma was classified as the mild
persistent type according to the Japanese pediatricguidelines for the treatment and management ofasthma. Shokenchuto extract (Tsumura & Co., Tokyo,

10

improveappetite increased and he stopped catching colds,Introduction

evenJapan) was administered at a dose of 7.5g/day totook asthma medication, and frequently went to thehospital for inhalation. He did not go to a nurseryschool. He easily caught colds and developed fever.
Present condition: Height, 89 cm; Body weight, 12.3 kg.
Pulse: Both slightly floating and rapid Tongue:
Slightly red, and white coated.
Abdomen: Weak abdominal strength.
Clinical course:
The severity of his asthma was classified as the mild
persistent type according to the Japanese pediatricguidelines for the treatment and management ofinfantile asthma. Ogikenchuto extract (Tsumura &Co., Tokyo, Japan) was administered at a dose of 3.0g/day, and when he caught a cold, shinpito extract(Tsumura & Co., Tokyo, Japan) was added at a doseof 2.5 g/day. One month later, he developed a cold andmild wheezing. Two months later, he also had a cold,
but wheezing did not develop. Since then, thepatient`s bronchial asthma attacks disappeared. TheThe Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 13, Number 2 | Summer 2018

administration of ogikenchuto was continued until

When reviewing this case from the viewpoint of theits withdrawal at 3 years of age.

“Yasui Classification of the Indications for Kampo
Treatment,”

thesuccessful

administration

ofshokenchuto and ogikenchuto satisfies the definition

Discussion

Shokenchuto

ogikenchuto

theof “Type 1”; Treatment is effective by Kampo

constitutional infirmity and digestive function of thetreatment alone and better than standard western

patients and reduced the onset of common colds andmedical treatment.

respiratory tract infections. As a result, these

The administration of shokenchuto or ogikenchuto toKampo medicines cured bronchial asthma in the twochildren with bronchial asthma in children is notchildren. It is important for us to treat patients ineffective in all cases. However, for children who areaccordance with the Japanese pediatric asthma

prone to catching colds and whose respiratory andguidelines with inhaled steroids or leukotriene

gastrointestinal function are immature and fragile,

receptor antagonists, as well as focus on infirmity of

it is well worth considering this medication, which

the respiratory and digestive function, known as

may cure or ameliorate asthma in children.

andimproved“Hai”, and “Hi” in Kampo medicine, which cause
bronchial asthma attacks and transient wheezing inchildren.
In recent years, there have been developments forbronchial asthma therapy in both children andadults; thus, the indication of a bronchodilator
consists of ephedra herb which was traditionallyusedinKampo

medicine(e.g.,

maotoormakyokansekito extract), has clearly decreased. We
usually treat moderate or severe asthma attacks inchildren with a bronchodilator or steroids, even if we
use Kampo medicine for preventing asthma attacks.
In case 2, the patient took inhaled both inhaledbronchodilator and shinpito extract (containingephedra herb) only when he caught a cold or wheezed.
On the other hand, shokenchuto or ogikenchuto has
the potential to be adapted for the treatment ofchildhood diseases, including bronchial asthma andallergic disease, by improving the digestive function
and constitutional infirmity of the respiratory tract,
and by preventing children from catching thecommon cold. In addition, shokenchuto can beappliedin

emotionallythetreatment

instability

dueofchildren
toillnesswithordevelopmental disability. Ogikenchuto is a Kampo
prescription in which Ogi (Astragali Radix) is added
to shokenchuto. It is generally suitable for children
who are more fragile and tend to sweat.

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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