Efficacy of Aconiti tuber for chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy with peripheral coldness and/or symptoms relief by warming: A case series

Case: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) frequently occurs in cancer patients due to neurotoxic anti-cancer drugs and is associated with painful refractory symptoms. Aconiti tuber (bushi), a Japanese herbal medicine, is an analgesic agent. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of bushi for CIPN among cancer patients. We retrospectively analyzed cancer patients who visited our hospital and were administered bushi for CIPN between January 2020 and November 2020. We analyzed efficacy and adverse events by medical chart review. Outcome: Seven cancer patients (mean age 67.9 years, three females) were enrolled. The following neurotoxic anti-cancer agents were administered: platinum analogues (n = 6), taxanes (n = 2), proteasome inhibitors (n = 1). Bushi was evaluated as effective in four patients (57.1%). One patient (9.1%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (bad feeling). No other adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Bushi is effective for CIPN in cancer patients.