Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Gastrointestinal Motility and Bowel Obstruction

Yoshiyuki Furukawa, Y Shiga, N Hanyu, Y Hashimoto, H Mukai, K Nishikawa, T Aoki

Department of Surgery II, Jikei Univerisity School of Medicine

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of bowel obstruction and on gastrointestinal motility. The Chinese herbal medicine we used was Dai-kenchu-to. Method: Gastrointestinal motility was investigated in 4 dogs. Strain gauge transducers were implanted at the antrum, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. A gastrostomy tube was inserted in the gastric fundus and jejunum to infuse Dai-kenchu-to. The contractile frequency and amplitude were analyzed to examine the influence of 1 g Dai-kenchu-to on gastrointestinal motility for 2 hours during fed and fasting states. Furthermore, the value of this medicine was clinically evaluated in 69 bowel obstruced patients without operative indication. In 20 patients,7.5-15.0 g of Dai-kenchu-to was administered daily through a nasogastric tube, ileus tube or peroraly, and 49 patients were treated by other drugs. Results: The frequency and amplitude of the antrum, duodenum and jejunum significantly increased during the fasting and fed states after the infusion of Dai-kenchu-to. In the fasting state, contractile amplitude became 80% of the natural phase III contraction after administration. In the fed state, contractile amplitude and frequency significantly increased after administration. In the groups administered Dai-kenchu-to, the hospitalized period was 21.8 ± 2.4 days and in other groups it was 27.7 ± 2.9 days. There were significant differences between these two groups. Conclusion: Dai-kenchu-to significantly increases gastrointestinal motility. This medicine may have a useful effect in the treatment of bowel obstructed patients.

Key words
gastrointestinal motility, ileus treatment, Chinese herb medicine

Reprint requests
Yoshiyuki Furukawa Department of Surgery II, Tokyo Jikeikai University School of Medicine
3-25-8 Nishishinbashi, Minatoku,Tokyo, 105 JAPAN

Accepted
December 7, 1994

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