Assessment of Patients Treated with Kampo Decoctions Containing Aconite Root Before Processing (uzu) / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We examined 57 patients treated with Kampo decoctions containing uzu for 5 years and 3 months from September 2013. Sekiganryo, which was administered to 32 patients, was the most commonly used decoction. The value of uzu dosage and duration of administration were spread widely and the medians (ranges) are 8.0 (1.0-41.0)g/day and 180 (3-1700) days, respectively. Complete recovery, partial recovery, no recovery, and deterioration in terms of the chief complaint, were observed in 36, 11, 9, and 1 patients, respectively. The number of patients exhibiting complete or partial recovery was higher than that of patients showing no recovery or deterioration when the duration of uzu administration was more than one month and the dosage was higher than 4 g/day (p < 0.05). The patients treated with uzu more than 20 g/day were all sekiganryo administrated ones. Side effects were observed in three patients. Thus, under careful observation, uzu was safely used over a long term and at high doses.uzu: aconite root before processing

A Patient with Diffuse Panbronchiolitis Treated with a Combination of Keishikyoshakuyakukasokyoto and Acupuncture / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We report a case of a 71 year-­old woman treated for diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB). She received home oxygen therapy and was administered erythromycin ; however, sputum production, cough and respiratory dis­tress worsened. After hospitalization, she was treated with keishikyoshakuyakukasokyoto and acupuncture. After 30 days, respiratory distress, respiratory resistance measured with the pulseoscillation technique and the distance walked in the 6-­minute walk test improved. Thus, combination therapy comprising keishikyo­shakuyakukasokyoto and acupuncture seemed to be a beneficial therapy for an advanced case of DPB.

A Case of Sarcoidosis Complicated by Knee Pain and Fatigue Successfully Treated with Uzu / 日本東洋医学雑誌

A 48-year-old man presented with knee pain and general fatigue. He had been diagnosed with sarcoidosis 15 years previously. Prednisolone was administered, but the pain and fatigue persisted. Morphine, fentanyl, and a tramadol/acetaminophen combination were then administered, but their effects were not sufficient. Finally, the patient was treated with sekiganryo, uzuto, uzukeishito, and daiuzusen, all of which contained uzu (aconite root without processing). His pain and fatigue improved after administration of these drugs, and he became able to perform various activities of daily living. In this case, uzu alleviated knee pain and general fatigue in a patient with sarcoidosis.

<b>Sansoninto (Containing Zizyphi Spinosa Semen) Alleviates Multiple Joint and Muscle Pains More Effectively than Insomnia : a Report on two Cases</b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

<p>Case 1 : A 56-year-old woman had been suffering from insomnia for 10 years, and multiple joint pains on her shoulders, wrists and fingers for 2 years. She complained of headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, and irritable bowel syndromes. Case 2 : A 72-year-old woman presented with cold and painful feeling in her legs that she had had for 10 years, as well as insomnia, excessive sweating, alopecia and pollakiuria that she had had for two years. In both cases, organic diseases of the joints or muscles were ruled out by several doctors, and the patients had been suffering from malaise and insomnia for which they had been taking brotizolam for several years. Consequently, the patients consulted our department of traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo). Medical interviews revealed that they had been under a lot of stress for a long time because of family problems. Sansoninto (roasted Zizyphi spinosa semen 15 g, Poria 3 g, Cnidii Rhizoma 3 g, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma 3 g,Glycyrrhizae Radix 1.5 g) was prescribed, which reduced the pain in their joints and muscles, and their other complaints, in several weeks. Sansoninto seemed not to alleviate insomnia as effectively as it did the pain and other multi complaints, because the patients were not able to discontinue brotizolam. Patients with multiple complaints including insomnia with fatigue induced by long-term stressful lifestyle may sometimes possibly express non-organic joint or muscle pain. Sansoninto may be an effective prescription for non-organic joint and muscle pain.</p>

<b>A Case of Fibromyalgia Complicated by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Successfully Treated with a Combination of Kampo Treatments Including Uzu and Acupuncture </b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

A 45-year-old woman had been suffering from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) for 2 years before admission. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and pregabalin did not affect the various symptoms. A severe feeling of Coldness, the widespread systemic pain and the severe fatigue were decreased by tsumyakushigyakuto (glycyrrihza 4 g, processed ginger 9 g, aconite root 6 g). Attacks of CRPS were relieved by a dose of daiuzusen (aconite root 1 g, honey 10 g). The CRPS attacks presented mainly on the left heart meridian and the small intestine meridian where we treated them with electroacupuncture with reference to the <i>Shigoryuchu </i>(子午流注) methods. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture decreased the frequency of pain attacks, and alleviated the muscles stiffness caused by the CRPS. Thus, the combination of Kampo medicine and acupuncture were effective for the severe pain and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome and CRPS.