Use of Yokukansan (TJ-54) in the treatment of neurological disorders: a review.

Kampo herbal remedies are reported to have a wide range of indications and have attracted attention due to reports suggesting that these remedies are effective when used in disease treatment while maintaining a favourable quality of life. Yokukansan, also known as TJ-54, is composed of seven herbs; Angelica acutiloba, Atractylodes lancea, Bupleurum falcatum, Poria cocos, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Cnidium officinale and Uncaria rhynchophylla. Yokukansan is used to treat insomnia and irritability as well as screaming attacks, sleep tremors and hypnic myoclonia, and neurological disorders which include dementia and Alzheimer's disease - the focus of this article. It is concluded that Yokukansan is a versatile herbal remedy with a variety of effects on various neurological states, without reported adverse effects. Traditional herbal medicines consist of a combination of constituents which account for the clinical effect seen. Likewise, the benefits of Yokukansan are probably attributable to the preparation as a whole, rather than to individual compounds.