Experience in Kanzobushito for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Headache with Hypersensitivity / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We report a case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who refused Western medical treatment and was able to improve concomitant symptoms including arthralgia and headache by using kanzobushito. The patient was a 35-year-old. Eight years previously, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis due to joint stiffness. Although receiving methotrexate therapy, she developed methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorders and the treatment was discontinued. Due to a feeling of rejection for Western medical treatment, she visited our hospital and was hospitalized for Kampo therapy. We prescribed kanzobushito for qi imbalance, coldness, and severe pain. Her joint pain, headache, and secondary symptoms were improved.

A Case Report of Painful Legs and Moving Toes Syndrome and Painful Arms and Moving Fingers Syndrome with Severe Blood Stasis and Panic Disorder Successfully Treated with Tokakujokito-Based Kampo Prescriptions / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The patient was a 47-year-old woman. Four years previously, she began to suffer from left lower leg pain and numbness, and involuntary movements. She received further examination in the department of neurology at other hospitals, but had an uncertain etiology and was provisionally diagnosed with restless legs syndrome. She was treated with Western medicine such as gabapentin and gabapentin enacarbil, but they were ineffective. She subsequently visited our hospital and was hospitalized. She was diagnosed with painful legs and moving toes syndrome, and painful arms and moving fingers syndrome after further examination. We prescribed tokakujokito because she had severe blood stasis and panic disorder on Kamp medical findings. As a result, her left lower leg numbness disappeared and pain was reduced. We report a case of a patient who could not be effectively treated using Western medicine and was successfully treated with tokakujokito-based Kampo prescriptions.

Cigarette Beetles (Lasioderma Serricorne) Occurring in Plantago Seed / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In the pharmaceutical department of Iizuka Hospital, larvae of the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) were found in Plantago seed for the first time since the Department of Japanese Kampo Medicine started in 1992. The larvae grew into pupae and then adults. The plastic-packaged Plantago seed was left for about 3 months, during which several larvae and adult cigarette beetles appeared. Cigarette beetles are very common insects in summer and it is important that we store crude drugs in hard closed containers in our refrigerators. The larvae can bite strongly and puncture plastic packaging, however they cannot live under 15 ℃. Education of crude drug storage for patients is very important.

Five Cases of Breast Cancer-Related Therapy Complications Successfully Treated with Kampo Medicine / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Five cases of various diseases associated with breast cancer treatment including arthralgia, menopausal symptoms, chemotherapy-­associated symptoms (nausea, vomiting, numbness, pain, general fatigue), and anxi­ety neuroses during follow-­up were treated with Kampo medicine and a favorable course was obtained. Com­bined use of Kampo treatment can reduce the suffering caused by the side effects of breast cancer treatment, alleviate mental symptoms, prevent recurrence, and improve the patients' health. Kampo medicine plays a role in cancer supportive care for breast cancer.

Two Cases Successfully Treated with Mokuboito on the Basis of Shinkahiken (Epigastric Stuffiness and Strong Resistance) / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Mokuboito is usually used for the treatment of patients with dyspnea and edema due to chronic heart failure. We herein report two cases successfully treated with mokuboito on the basis of shinkahiken (epigastric stuffiness and strong resistance). Case 1 was a 28-year-old woman. She had been experiencing occasional bouts of epigastralgia for 12 years, but they had worsened two months before the first visit to our department. When she was examined, however, the cause of epigastralgia could not be determined and she was diagnosed with functional gastroenteropathy. After being introduced to our department, she was treated with various Kampo formulas, but the symptom was poorly improved. Case 2 was a 74-year-old man who was prescribed hachimijiogan and shoseiryuto for an overactive bladder and perennial allergic rhinitis. His symptoms were stable, but suddenly deteriorated after two months. In both cases, when changing treatment to mokuboito on the basis of shinkahiken, the symptoms were improved. These results suggest that mokuboito can be used in a wide range of cases with shinkahiken.

The Role of Kampo Therapy to Treat Cellulitis / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In this report, we present three cases of lower limb cellulitis. The first case was an 88-year-old woman and the second case was a 36-year-old man. In addition to standard therapy, both of them received Kampo therapies with keishinieppiitto and jidabokuippo during the acute phase of cellulitis and were promptly cured. The third case was a 52-year-old woman with severe obesity suffering from repeated and intractable cellulitis. She received Kampo therapy including keishibukuryogan. The redness and swelling in her leg gradually disappeared. Administration of adequate antibiotics and elevation of affected areas are important for the treatment of cellulitis. Even with appropriate therapy, some patients are slow to respond and difficult to treat. The skin findings in cellulitis are swelling, redness, heat, and pain, which can be recognized and treated as water imbalance, heat, and blood stasis in Kampo medicine. This case report suggests that cellulitis during the acute phase can be treated with keishinieppiitto and the treatment of water imbalance and heat is important. After the acute phase, the treatment of blood stasis is important. Considering the time of onset and skin findings in cellulitis, Kampo therapy can contribute to the rapid recovery of cellulitis.

Applications of Orento Based on“Upper Heat and Middle Cold” / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Orento is generally used for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. We have used orento for various diseases based on “upper heat and middle cold”. As a result of the evaluation of 30 responders to orento, the most frequent sign of “upper heat” was “yellow tongue coating” (29/30 responders), while the most frequent sign of “middle cold” was “preference for warm foods and beverages” (27/30 responders). Compared with the non-­responder group, the responder group showed significantly higher frequencies of “gastrointestinal cold”, which is the sum of “preference for warm foods and beverages” and “aggravation of gastrointestinal symptoms by cold foods and beverages” (29/30 responders, p = 0.047), and “upper/lower gastrointestinal symptoms” (29/30 responders, p = 0.014). These results suggest that “yellow tongue coating” is the most important sign for “upper heat” while “gastrointestinal cold” is the most important sign for “middle cold”. As Kampo patterns for orento, gastrointestinal symptoms often occur, but there is a possibility of upper or lower gastrointestinal symptoms, skin disorders, and sleep disorders.

A Case of Lower Back with Extremity Pain Successfully Treated with Kanzobushito / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We report a case of lower back with extremities pain, whose cause could not be established in the medical sense nor relieved by analgesic drugs, was successfully treated with kanzobushito. The patient was a 69-­year-old male. Because of extremity pain of his lower left back, he could not move by himself and was transported to our hospital by an ambulance. Having persistent pain, he could not turn over or stretch his left leg and anal­gesic drugs and sacral nerve blocks were ineffective. We administered kanzobushito referring to the phrase “pain that gets worse as someone approaches” in the Shokanron. After administering kanzobushito, his pain was reduced remarkably and he could sit down on the bed. And his activities of daily living improved immedi­ately. Thus, kanzobushito may be useful for severe pain and should be administered to neuropathic pain compli­cated with psychogenic factors referring to coldness, severe pain and abnormality of qi (irritable).