Sufficient response of Kampo medicine to the patients with recurred trigeminal neuralgia

Abstract

Although Kampo medicine is regarded as an effective treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, the effect of Kampo on recurrent cases of trigeminal neuralgia is unclear. We examined 140 cases of trigeminal neuralgia patients who underwent surgery at our hospital. 30 out of 140 patients showed the recurrence of neuralgia postoperatively, and among these patients Kampo medicine was administered to 20 patients. There were 7 cases in which pain disappeared only by using Kampo medicine. In the cases with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia, Kampo was especially effective on the patients with veins as offending vessels. We showed the effect of Kampo on the recurrent cases with operated trigeminal neuralgia. Further studies are needed to reveal the impact of Kampo on the recurrence of trigeminal neuralgia.