Rikkunshito as a Therapeautic Agent for Functional Dyspepsia and its Prokinetic and Non-Prokinetic Effects

Prokinetics is one of the therapeutic agents for functional and motility disorders of the stomach. However, its efficacy is limited. Kampo medicine is a unique medical system that was developed in Japan. In Kampo medicine, herbal medicine is prescribed based on the patient's condition. Therefore, even for functional and motility disorders of the stomach, some herbal medicines are considered as a therapeutic option. Recently, there has been an increase in evidence for the efficacy or the mechanism of herbal medicine for functional and motility disorders of the stomach. Among these, rikkunshito is a well-studied herbal medicine that could be used as an alternative to prokinetics. In this review, we discuss the possibilities of rikkunshito for functional dyspepsia with its prokinetic and non-prokinetic effects and provide an overview of their current use with a focus on their therapeutic mechanism.

Automated summary

Prokinetics is a limited therapeutic option for functional and motility disorders of the stomach, while Kampo medicine, especially herbs like rikkunshito, offers alternative treatment with diverse therapeutic mechanisms. The increasing evidence for the efficacy of herbal medicine in treating stomach disorders highlights the potential of herbal medicine as a valuable therapeutic option.