Aim:Shakuyakukanzoto is a Japanese herbal medicine that is known to be useful for the treatment of urinary stone pain. In this study, we investigated the effects of shakuyakukanzoto for acute renal colic.Methods:Twenty-five patients were enrolled in this study. Eleven patients took 5.0 g of shakuyakukanzoto powder, and 14 control patients took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for their acute renal colic. The effects were evaluated before and 15, 30, and 60 minutes after treatment with a numerical rating scale (NRS). We defined scale point zero as not having pain, and scale point ten as having the strongest pain.Results:Mean NRS scores improved from 6.7 ± 2.3 to 3.4 ± 3.5 after 15 minutes (shakuyakukanzoto group), and from 8.3 ± 1.8 to 7.0 ± 1.9 after 15 minutes (control group). NRS scores were improved immediately and significantly in both groups. The NRS score of shakuyakukanzoto group was significantly lower than that of control group at the any time after treatment. No side effects were observed in this study.Conclusion : Shakuyakukanzoto has an immediate effect, and it is more effective than NSAIDs. Shakuyakukanzoto was a useful treatment for acute renal colic.

Aim : Hochuekkito is a Japanese herbal medicine that is known to be useful for the treatment of uterine prolapse and urinary incontinence. In this study, we investigated the effects of hochuekkito prescriptions in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Methods : 13 women were enrolled in this study. They each took 7.5 g of hochuekkito powder prior to a meal three times a day, for 4 weeks. The effects were evaluated before and after treatment with a visual analogue scale (VAS), a incontinence-quality-of-life index (IQOL), and voiding diaries. Moreover, pad tests and uroflowmetry measures were done before and after treatment.
Results : VAS and IQOL scores were not improved significantly. Although the mean number of SUI episodes per one day, and the number of pads used decreased after treatment as compared to before, these were not significantly different. Micturition frequency and uroflowmetry parameters did not change after treatment. However, in patients whose Body Mass Index (BMI) was < 25, subjective symptoms significantly improved after treatment. No side effects were observed in this study.
Conclusion : Hochuekkito was a useful treatment for slender female patients with SUI.