A Valid Approach in Refractory Glossodynia: A Single-Institution 5-Year Experience Treating with Japanese Traditional Herbal (Kampo) Medicine

Hideki Okamoto,Masaki Raimura,Takao Namiki,Keigo Ueda,Yoshiro Hirasaki,Atsushi Chino

doi:10.1155/2013/354872

Hideki Okamoto, Masaki Raimura + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/354872

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Abstract

Glossodynia is often refractory to conventional medicine, and there is only limited evidence to guide clinicians in its management. Patients with refractory glossodynia are often introduced to Japanese traditional herbal (Kampo) medicine experts under such circumstances because Kampo medicine has become known in Japan to be effective in treating a wide variety of symptoms refractory to conventional medicine. Herein, we report our single-institution 5-year experience treating patients with Kampo medicine for primary glossodynia that was refractory to conventional medicine. We found that 69.2% of patients reported a beneficial effect of Kampo medicine on glossodynia, and the average onset of improvement was 8.0 ± 7.7 weeks after starting Kampo treatment. The top two frequently used Kampo medicines for glossodynia were seinetsuhokito and mibakuekkito among high responders who showed a decrease of severity by 50% or more. The top four most overlapped herbs among effective Kampo medicines for glossodynia were Glycyrrhiza Root, Ginseng Root, Hoelen, and Atractylodes (lancea) Rhizome, which compose an essential Kampo prescription called shikunshito. Although more research is required to further clarify the effectiveness of Kampo medicine, it has valid efficacy even in cases of glossodynia that remain incurable by conventional treatments.

Highlights

IntroductionKnown as glossopyrosis (burning tongue) or glossalgia (tongue pain), is characterized by chronic oral dysaesthesia in the setting of no identifiable clinical lesions, laboratory abnormalities, or causative systemic disease
Primary glossodynia, known as glossopyrosis or glossalgia, is characterized by chronic oral dysaesthesia in the setting of no identifiable clinical lesions, laboratory abnormalities, or causative systemic disease
Glossodynia is regarded as a type of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) that is often refractory to conventional medicine, and there is only limited evidence to guide clinicians in the management of patients with BMS

Summary

Introduction

Known as glossopyrosis (burning tongue) or glossalgia (tongue pain), is characterized by chronic oral dysaesthesia in the setting of no identifiable clinical lesions, laboratory abnormalities, or causative systemic disease. The difficulty of treating BMS may result in BMS patients being unfavorably associated with a specific pattern of personality disorder comorbidity [2]. The Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society defines BMS as “an intraoral burning sensation for which no medical or dental cause can be found” (Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society, 2004), and the International Association for the Study of Pain defines it as “a pain of at least 4–6 months duration located on the tongue or other mucosal membranes in the absence of clinical or laboratory findings.”. Japanese traditional herbal medicine, which originated in China, treats BMS based on Kampo-specific diagnostics, regardless of the pathogenesis determined on the basis of conventional medicine

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