Hachimijiogan Herbal Complex
Also known as: Hachimijiogan, Ba-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan, Japanese Kampo herbal complex, HJG
Overview
Hachimijiogan (HJG), also known as Ba-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan, is a traditional multi-herbal formula originating from Chinese traditional medicine and adapted into Japanese Kampo medicine. It consists of eight botanical ingredients: Rehmannia radix, Corni fructus, Dioscorea rhizome, Hoelen (Poria), Alismatis rhizome, Moutan cortex, Cinnamomi cortex, and Aconiti tuber. Traditionally, HJG is used for age-related conditions and metabolic disorders. Its primary applications include addressing symptoms associated with dementia, sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), and diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease complications from diabetes). Research suggests HJG may exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory effects. While several preclinical and some small-scale clinical studies exist, including a systematic review, large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are still limited. The current evidence base is considered moderate, with promising preliminary data supporting its potential benefits.
Benefits
Hachimijiogan shows promising, albeit preliminary, benefits across several areas, primarily in age-related conditions. A small randomized controlled trial (RCT) indicated significant cognitive and functional improvements in older adults with dementia, with participants showing an average increase of 2.6 points in MMSE scores and 18.3 points in Barthel Index scores after 8 weeks of treatment compared to placebo. This suggests potential for improving daily living activities and cognitive function in this population. In vitro studies have demonstrated HJG's ability to increase the proliferation of skeletal muscle myoblasts by 1.23-fold, suggesting a potential role in preventing or mitigating sarcopenia, though clinical validation is needed. Furthermore, animal studies have shown nephroprotective effects in diabetic models, where HJG reduced blood glucose, urinary protein excretion, oxidative stress markers, and renal pathological changes, indicating its potential to protect kidney function in diabetic patients. These effects are attributed to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. While the cognitive and ADL improvements were statistically significant, they stem from a small sample size, and the muscle proliferation and nephroprotective effects are primarily from preclinical studies, requiring further human clinical trials for confirmation.
How it works
Hachimijiogan's mechanism of action involves several biological pathways. In muscle cells, it has been shown to activate the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which promotes the proliferation of skeletal muscle myoblasts, suggesting a role in muscle regeneration and prevention of sarcopenia. In the context of diabetic nephropathy, HJG appears to reduce oxidative stress and inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are key contributors to kidney damage in diabetes. It also modulates inflammatory markers such as TGF-β1, fibronectin (FN), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in kidney tissue, contributing to its nephroprotective effects. Overall, HJG interacts with the nervous system (cognitive function), musculoskeletal system (muscle proliferation), and renal system (kidney protection) through its multi-component herbal composition, although the specific absorption and bioavailability of its various constituents are not yet well characterized.
Side effects
Hachimijiogan is generally considered safe based on traditional use and available research, with no major adverse events reported in the reviewed studies. Common side effects (occurring in >5% of users) are not clearly documented in the available literature. Similarly, uncommon (1-5%) and rare (<1%) side effects have not been explicitly reported in clinical studies. However, a theoretical concern exists regarding the Aconiti tuber component, which can be toxic if improperly processed; no direct evidence of such toxicity was found in the reviewed clinical studies. Due to its complex multi-herbal nature, potential drug interactions are unknown, and caution is advised, especially for individuals on other medications. Contraindications are not explicitly reported, but individuals with known allergies to any of its herbal components or those with severe organ dysfunction should exercise caution. Specific safety data for pregnant or pediatric populations are lacking, and therefore, its use in these groups is not recommended without medical supervision. Elderly patients, for whom HJG is often considered, should be monitored for cognitive and functional status.
Dosage
The optimal dosage for Hachimijiogan is not yet well-established or standardized in modern clinical practice. Traditional Kampo dosing typically ranges from 5 to 10 grams of the herbal extract per day. For the cognitive benefits observed in a small clinical study, improvements were noted after 8 weeks of treatment, though the exact milligram dosage was not specified, only that it was a typical Kampo dose. For muscle proliferation, in vitro effects were observed after short-term exposure (3 days). The maximum safe dose of Hachimijiogan is currently unknown, as no high-dose toxicity studies have been conducted. HJG is typically administered as a decoction or granule extract in Kampo practice. Due to the complex nature of the herbal matrix, the absorption and bioavailability of its various components are not fully understood. No specific cofactors are reported to be required for its efficacy.
FAQs
Is Hachimijiogan effective for dementia?
Small clinical trials suggest Hachimijiogan may improve cognitive function and daily living activities in older adults with dementia, but larger, more robust studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Can it prevent muscle loss?
In vitro studies show Hachimijiogan can promote muscle cell proliferation, indicating potential for preventing sarcopenia. However, clinical evidence in humans is currently lacking.
Is it safe?
Hachimijiogan is generally considered safe with no major adverse effects reported in studies. However, due to its complex herbal composition, caution is advised, especially regarding potential unknown drug interactions.
How long before effects appear?
Cognitive improvements have been observed after 8 weeks of treatment. In laboratory settings, muscle cell effects were noted within 3 days.
Does it interact with medications?
Potential interactions with other medications are currently unknown. It is crucial to consult a healthcare provider before using Hachimijiogan, especially if you are taking other prescription drugs.
Research Sources
- https://www.lidsen.com/journals/geriatrics/geriatrics-06-01-191 – This systematic review and meta-analysis included a small randomized controlled trial (RCT) showing Hachimijiogan's potential to improve Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Barthel Index scores in older adults with dementia. The study suggests HJG may offer cognitive and functional benefits, but highlights the need for larger, high-quality RCTs due to the small sample size and limited replication.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4330035/ – This in vitro study demonstrated that Hachimijiogan increased the proliferation of C2C12 skeletal muscle myoblasts by 1.23-fold. The mechanism was linked to the activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, suggesting a potential role for HJG in muscle regeneration and the prevention of sarcopenia, though these findings are preclinical.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4662991/ – This review of animal studies indicated that Hachimijiogan exhibited nephroprotective effects in diabetic rat models. HJG was shown to reduce blood glucose, urinary protein excretion, oxidative stress markers, and renal pathological changes, suggesting its potential to prevent or slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy. These are promising preclinical findings that require human validation.
