Pharmacological properties of traditional medicines. XXIV. Classification of antiasthmatics based on constitutional predispositions.

It is commonly accepted that bronchial asthma or rhinitis accompanies disorders in body fluids and body temperature. The effects of ephedrine and the traditional antiasthmatics "Makyo-kanseki-to" and "Goko-to" were therefore studied on such constitutional predispositions as insensible perspiration and body temperature. Ephedrine markedly increased body temperature and exhibited a strong increased action on respiratory insensible perspiration, whereas Makyo-kanseki-to and Goko-to not only prevented the elevation of body temperature, but also increased respiratory insensible perspiration following the reduction of non-evaporative heat loss from the body surface. Thus, the diagnostic criteria of these two medicines used to treat hot-type asthma or dry cough were experimentally determined. The results also suggest that there is a great possibility that the administration of antiasthmatics may elicit side effects or make diseases worse unless their actions on constitutional predispositions are taken into account, such as body temperature and body fluids.