Modulation by anti-oketsu formulations in Kampo medicine of human arterial stiffness

Objective: In traditional herbal medicine (Kampo medicine in Japan), “sho” is diagnosed by the traditional assessments of clinical conditions. Among a variety of the shos, there is an “oketsu” syndrome, which is a stagnation and disturbance of microcirculation. The prompt effects of four anti-oketsu formulations in Kampo medicine on cardiovascular functions were compared in oketsu and non-oketsu persons. Methods: The arterial pulse wave from radial artery is formed by the combination with ejection and reflection pulses. An augmentation index (AI), a ration of the ejection and reflection pulses, indicates a degree of arteriosclerosis. For both seventy-six students with oketsu and thirty-seven students with non-oketsu, Kampo formulations overcoming oketsu of Tokishakuyakusan (TS, Dang-Gui-Shao-Yao-San), Kamishoyosan (KS, Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San), Keisibukuryogan (KB, Gui-Zhi-Fu-Ling-Wan) and Tokakujokito (TJ, Tao-He-Cheng-Qi-Tang) were taken once, and then, the cardiovascular functions including blood pressure, heart rate, central arterial blood pressure (CBP) and AI were examined for 60 min. Results: At 40-60 min after an intake, these formulations decreased the AI almost by 6-18% (n = 76), by 18.3±3.1% (P 0.01, n = 15) with TJ. Simultaneously, the CBP was reduced by 9.0±1.8% (P 0.05, n = 23) with KS and by 9.1±2.0% (P 0.05, n = 15) with TJ. On the other hands, non-oketsu group had less or no effect by any kinds of the formulations. Conclusion: The anti-oketsu formulations can exert the ameliorative action for oketsu persons via decreasing AI and CBP.