The Effect of Anchusan, a Placebo, on the Abnormal Sensation in the Throat

Abstract

Anchusan is a prescription of crude drugs and has been used for the therapy of gastritis in Kanpo medicine (Chinese traditional medicine inherited and developed in Japan). The authors administered Tsumura-Anchusan (7.5g daily for two weeks) to 22 male and 28 female patients with abnormal sensation in the throat in order to evaluate the placeboeffects of the drug for these patients. By analysing the patients' subjective signs and symptoms, the following results were obtained.
1. The drug was effective for 42% of the patients in a week, for 50% in 2 weeks and 44% in 3 weeks (one week after the cessation of the drug).
2. When the evaluation was made one week after the cessation of the drug administration, the rate of effectiveness of Anchusan for the present study was significantly lower than the previously reported effectiveness of Hangekobokuto for the female patients and Saikokaryukotsuboreito for males.
3. Placebo-effects were hardly obtained in patients of 30 to 60 years of age who were skinny, nervous, neurotic and/or dishonest.