Effects of Kampo on functional gastrointestinal disorders

Table 1 Beneficial effects of Kampo medicines on mind, stress, and body in functional gastrointestinal disorders

	Effects on brain	Effects on stress	Effects on GI tract
Rikkunshito	Reduces depressive symptoms and high cortisol levels.	Inhibits stress-induced activation of HPA axis and SNS.	Improves gastric motility dysfunction, i.e., gastric emptying and gastric accommodation.
	Reduces anxiety.	Inhibits stress-induced activation of HPA axis and SNS.
	Inhibits activities of CRH-producing neurons.		Modulates gastric hypersensitivity.
	Inhibits activities of CRH-producing neurons.		Increases ghrelin secretion.
Keishikashakuyakuto	Has sedative, antidepressant-like effects.	Inhibits stress-induced activation of HPA axis.	Has anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.
	Increases BDNF

BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; GI, gastrointestinal; HPA, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical; SNS, sympathetic nervous system.

ISSN: 1751-0759