Complementary therapy with Chinese aromatic herbs to promote awakening in a comatose patient: A case report

Abstract

Rationale: Traumatic brain injury frequently leads to prolonged coma, posing significant medical management challenges. Complementary therapies, including traditional Chinese herbal medicine, have been investigated as potential interventions in comatose patients. Chinese aromatic herbs, such as Borneolum (Bingpian), Moschus (Shexiang), and Acori tatarinowii rhizoma (Shichangpu), have long been believed to be “resuscitation with aromatics” based on traditional Chinese medicines theory. Patient concerns: A 16-year-old male was admitted to the intensive rehabilitation unit for further treatment due to prolonged coma and frequent seizures following traumatic brain injury. Diagnoses: Western medicine diagnosed the patient as coma, diffuse axonal injury, and epilepsy. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the syndrome differentiation indicates a Yin-closed disease. Interventions: According to the patient’s condition, we use the Chinese aromatic herbs as a complementary therapy. Outcomes: Following a month-long administration, the patient’s consciousness and electroencephalogram (EEG) background progressively improved. A 6-month follow-up demonstrated full arousal, though with ambulatory EEG revealing mild to moderate abnormality in the background. Lessons: The addition of Chinese aromatic herbs appears to have a beneficial effect on the patient’s consciousness and EEG background. This could be attributed to the herbs’ inherent pharmacological properties, as well as their potential to enhance the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to other drugs. This makes them a promising option for complementary therapy.