Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by recurrent obstruction of the upper airway, causing apneas that are associated with oxygen desaturation and frequent arousals from sleep. The diagnosis of OSAS is usually obvious, presenting features of snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, general fatigue, and obesity. Hochuekkito is a KAMPO medicine, Indicated for general fatigue, lack of will power, weakness of arms and legs, daytime sleepiness, gastric ptosis, hemorrhoids, prolapsus ani, ptosis of the uterus, and impotence.
Weakness of the upper airway dilator muscles induces obstruction of upper airway, and apnea. Hochuekkito may improve the muscle tone of the upper airway. The effect of Hochuekkito were studied in 13 patients with OSAS (5 patients diagnosed by polysomnography and 8 patients diagnosed by apnomonitor). The results indicate that there exist statistically significant differences in apnea index (AI) and desaturation (AI 23.1±4.8→9.6 ±2.6/h., mean SaO₂ (%) 83.7±0.7→94.0±0.9, p<0.05, mean±SD). We conclude that Hochuekkito increases the upper airway activity causing reduction of sleep apnea and snoring.