Endocrinological actions of Unkei-to, a herbal medicine, and its clinical usefulness in anovulatory and/or infertile women.

Kampo medicine (Chinese herbal medicine) has been reported to be effective in the treatment of pituitary-ovarian dysfunction in young women and in the treatment of undefined symptoms in perimenopausal women. It has been considered that both the diagnosis and treatment of ovulatory failure in adolescent girls or young women are necessary for the sake of future fertile capacity. However, treatment for the above patients is not easy as steroid hormones and strong stimulators of ovulation should not be recommended because of the several side-effects it causes. Furthermore, young women, especially teenagers, seem to be reluctant to visit gynecology clinics. A number of herbal medicines have been used for many centuries in China and Japan for the treatment of menstrual disorders and infertility. In general, the traditional Chinese herbal prescriptions are rather inexpensive and safe with little side-effects, and have properties for normalizing biological balances. Unkei-to is known to stimulate the synthesis and release of gonadotropins in the rat pituitary. In humans, Unkei-to is known to be effective in various menstrual disorders, abnormal uterine bleeding, and infertility. In the treatment of ovulatory failure, recent dynamic studies have revealed the mechanism by which Unkei-to stimulates the diencephalon-pituitary-ovarian axis in humans. In this paper, we critically review the clinical data available (to date) in order to assess the efficacy of Unkei-to in inducing ovulation in several types of ovulatory disturbances. (Reprod Med Biol 2003; 2: 45-61).