KAMPO TODAY:Eastern and Western Approaches to Symptomatic Relief of Colds

spirin, the most commonly used medication for treating the common cold and flu in the West, is a pain relieving and antipyretic agent derived from a chemical modification of ingredients in the bark of the willow tree (Salix alba). But some 2000 years ago, long before aspirin was discovered, a Chinese medical classic called the Shokan-ron already had described several different types of medicines for colds, one of which was Kakkon-to.

Puerania root, a major component of Kakkon-to prescription, has anti-febrile and other effects.

Kakkon-to, which is used for treating the initial stages of a cold, is compounded of Pueraria Root, Ephedra Herb, Cinnamon Bark, Peony Root, Jujube Fruit, Glycyrrhiza Root and Ginger Rhizome. It is known to possess sudorific, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory qualities, and is effective in treating fever-related symptoms such as headache and chills.

Dr. Kimiyasu Shiraki, professor at the Virus Research Labs of Toyama Medical & Pharmaceutical University, recently reported the findings of research comparing the healing activity of Tsumura's Kakkon-to (TJ-1) and aspirin on influenza-infected mice.

The experiment, done on the DBA/2Cr strain of mice, which readily develop symptoms of fever after inhaling the influenza virus, was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Kakkon-to on mice infected in this way. The researchers noted that, unlike mice given just water, those treated with Kakkon-to did not develop a high fever after 1-2 days of virus infection. It was also noted that treatment with Kakkon-to helped the mice recover more quickly from weight loss, a symptom of influenza in mice, and lowered the mortality rate by preventing the onset of pneumonia.

In order to further examine their respective effectiveness, antipyretic action and preventive effect against pneumonia, Kakkon-to and aspirin were compared with respect to several pathological aspects of influenza-induced fever. Specifically, comparison focused on production of cytokines, which aid an animal's defense against the influenza virus.

The experiment found that Kakkon-to did not affect the increase in interferon activity caused by the viral infection, nor did the levels of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in the blood show any change. However, the concentration of IL-1alpha in the blood serum was significantly lower, remaining at the level of the healthy mice. From this, researchers concluded that Kakkon-to works as an antipyretic agent by lowering IL-1alpha generation, while aspirin works by preventing cyclooxygenase activity rather than by affecting IFN and IL-1alpha activity.

Influenza-infected mice treated with Kakkon-to also showed milder symptoms of pneumonia and had lower IL-1alpha concentration in irrigation fluid obtained from lung alveoli. The researchers believe that by lowering the level of IL-1alpha generation, Kakkon-to reduces the degree of cell infiltration that accompanies inflammation of the lungs, just as it helps reduce fever by inhibiting IL-1alpha generation.

These findings show that Kakkon-to's antipyretic action differs from that of aspirin. The data also suggested that Kakkonto, which acts by inhibiting IL-1alpha generation resulting from the influenza-induced rise of IFN levels, may also be useful in reducing the severity of pneumonia.