ABSTRACT
In Kampo medicine, general fatigue is categorized as a symptom caused by qi deficiency according to the qi-blood-water criteria. However, in some patients with general fatigue, formulae for qi deficiency are not effective, and this might be because their chronic symptoms are associated with blood stagnation. Recently, we encountered ten patients (M/F 1/9, mean age 46 years, range 23-55 years) with general fatigue that was improved by agents for treating blood stagnation, such as keishibukuryogan and/or tokakujokito. These patients, who were mostly of medium build, complained of neck or shoulder stiffness (9/10), constipation (5/10), and blushing or hot flushes (5/10). They had no problem with appetite, except that 5 patients tended to overeat. Remarkable sublingual collateral vessels (8/10), paraumbilical tenderness (9/10) and periorbital dark circles (5/10) were observed on physical examination. The tongue and abdominal signs improved or had disappeared after treatment for 3 to 8 months. Our results suggest that patients with general fatigue, but who present with symptoms associated with blood stagnation, could be treated with drugs for blood stagnation such as keishibukuryogan and/or tokakujokito.
ABSTRACT
We present seven cases of insomnia successfully treated with hochuekkito. Two patients showed improvement of their insomnia after taking hochuekkito before going to bed, and three patients showed improvement after taking hochuekkito twice per day. The other two patients could sleep better after adding hochuekkito to other Kampo formulations. All these patients were light sleepers, and became easily tired, excessive sleepy after meals, and had daytime sleepiness. However, they had no gastrointestinal symptoms, such as appetite loss. Five of the seven patients reported waking up feeling better after taking hochuekkito. Two other Kampo formulations, sansoninto and kihito, were also given to patients with deficient constitution, who complained of insomnia. Sansoninto and kihito are formulae that compensate for qui and blood deficiency. Kihito contains more herbs with beneficial effects on “spleen and stomach”, and “heart” functions more than sansoninto, and therefore, kihito may be preferred for patients with a more deficient constitution. The reason why our patients were able to sleep more deeply and wake up smoothly with hochuekkito may be that they exhibited remarkable qui deficiency, showing general fatigue, excessive sleepiness after meals, and daytime sleepiness, but without the symptoms of blood deficiency, such as palpitations or uneasiness, being easily frightened or forgetful, or showing anemia or bleeding.
ABSTRACT
We describe three cases of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menstrual pain successfully treated with kamikihito. Case 1 was a 26-year-old female who became irritated and had breast pain before menstruation, as well as suffering from menstrual pain. She was treated with kamikihito, because she easily became fatigued, which is a symptom of <i>qi </i>deficiency, and had insomnia. After taking kamikihito, the fatigue and insomnia initially improved, and then her PMS and menstrual pain were also ameliorated. Case 2 was a 38-year-old female with general fatigue that prevented her from performing daily housekeeping tasks, insomnia, and irritability before menstruation. Case 3 was a 31-year-old female who frequently suffered from cystitis, as well as general fatigue, insomnia, and depression. After taking kamikihito, the PMS and menstrual pain were improved, and her cystitis did not recur.<br>Kamikihito is based on kihito, with the addition of bupleurum root and gardenia fruit. Kamikihito could be a suitable herbal medicine for patients with PMS and menstrual pain, who have symptoms of <i>qi </i>deficiency and report insomnia or show signs of <i>qi </i>stagnation.
ABSTRACT
We investigated original texts for yokukansan, a familiar Kampo formula, focusing on the classical literature <i>Xue-shi yi-an</i> (薛氏医案) . Yokukansan was described in the <i>Bao-ying jin-jing-lu</i> (保嬰金鏡録) written by Xue ji (薛己) in 1550, the <i>Xiao-er yao-zheng zhi-jue</i> (小児薬証直訣) revised by Xue ji (薛己) in 1551,the <i>Bao-ying cuo-yao</i> (保嬰撮要) by Xue kai (薛鎧) in 1556, and the <i>Xiao-er dou-zhen fang-lun</i> (小児痘疹方論) in 1550. The phrase “one's own work” was used in “<i>Bao-ying jin-jing-lu</i> (保嬰金鏡録)” and in the <i>Xiao-er dou-zhen fang-lun</i> (小児痘疹方論) by Chen wen-zhong (陳文仲). However, there was no mention of “one's own work” in the same title, the <i>Xiao-er dou-zhen fang-lun</i> (小児痘疹方論), as summarized by Xiong zong-li (熊宗立).<br>Yokukansan was found only in the <i>Xiao-er yao-zheng zhi-jue</i> (小児薬証直訣) revised by Xue ji (薛己) in 1551, but not in the other copies of the same text. Therefore, it seems likely that yokukansan was created by Xue ji (薛己) himself.<br>Yokukansan was previously thought to have originated with the <i>Bao-ying cuo-yao</i> (保嬰撮要). However, based on use of the phrase “one's own work” in the classical literature, it appears that the original text for yokukansan should be the <i>Bao-ying jin-jing-lu</i> (保嬰金鏡録). Therefore, yokukansan seems to have been made by Xue ji (薛己), and not Xue kai (薛鎧), who was his father.