The swallowing obstacle improvement medicine which contains kapushinoido as the active ingredient, or the medicine composition or the food which includes this, is prescribed to the object which possesses the swallowing obstacle of the old person et. al.カプシノイドを有効成分として含有する嚥下障害改善剤、又はこれを含む医薬組成物又は食品を、老人等の嚥下障害を有する対象に投与する。