Two Cases of Pollinosis with Cough and Nasal Congestion Successfully Treated with Jinsoin

Abstract

While shoseiryuto and ryokankyomishingeninto are commonly used in Kampo medicine for pollinosis, there have been no reports on the effectiveness of jinsoin. This report details two cases where jinsoin proved effective for pollinosis accompanied by cough and nasal congestion. Jinsoin incorporates the principles of nichinto, offering effects that treat phlegm-fluid and water retention. It also contains qi-regulating crude drugs like perilla herb and immature orange, which address qi stagnation. Furthermore, crude drugs such as peucedanum root contribute to clearing lung heat. The two cases presented here were characterized by water retention due to spleen deficiency. Liver qi depression weakened the liver’s free-coursing function, which in turn impaired dispersing and descending function of lung. This led to lung qi failing to diffuse, resulting in lung heat and ultimately, lung yin deficiency. Given these factors, and with pollinosis primarily presented with cough and nasal congestion without watery nasal discharge, jinsoin was administered and found to be effective. A key differentiating factor from shoseiryuto and ryokankyomishingeninto is the absence of “lung cold” or “cold in the lung” findings. Therefore, jinsoin is considered a potential differential prescription for pollinosis primarily characterized by cough and nasal congestion in patients without watery nasal discharge.