Glossodynia, or tongue
pain, is resistant to conventional
therapies.
Kampo medicines were evaluated in patients suffering from incurable
glossodynia. Patients were diagnosed by
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory in order to determine the appropriate herbal prescriptions. Five Japanese females (50-76 years old) with
glossodynia refractory to conventional
therapy were enrolled in this study. Small portions of
rikkunshito, jiinkokato,
hachimijiogan and ryutanshakanto worked for a female diagnosed with "Spleen" and "Heart"
Yin deficiency, "Kidney"
Yang deficiency and "Liver" Qi stagnation producing heat syndrome. Seishoekkito and bakumondoto were effective for a patient diagnosed with "Spleen Qi" deficiency and "Stomach"
Yin deficiency producing heat syndrome.
Rikkunshito,
kamikihito and chikujountanto worked for a patient diagnosed with "Spleen Qi" and "Heart
Yin" deficiency, stagnation of "Liver" Qi producing fire and "Gallbladder" Qi deficiency. Rokumijiogan, kamishoyosan and kambakutaisoto were effective for a patient with Yang rise based on
Yin deficiency of "Kidney" and "Liver," and restless organ disorder based on
Yin deficiency of 5 viscera. A patient diagnosed with "Spleen"
Yang deficiency responded to a combination of anchusan and hangeshashinto. These patients with
glossodynia had resolution of
pain within 1 month of treatment. Herbal mixtures containing Ganoderam lucidum, not prescribed based on TCM theory, but effective for herpes
virus infection, worked for a female suffering from
glossodynia for 1 year after
artificial teeth were placed, but required about 5 months to note improvement.
Kampo medicines, properly prescribed based on TCM theory, quickly resolved the
pain of refractory
glossodynia.