ABSTRACT
Since ancient times, acupuncture and moxibustion have been widely administrated for any emergency case. In this country, they have been endeavored at establishing the harmony between Kampo and Modern medicine. Based on such background, we report two cases of colic pain attack of lithiasis successfully treated with contact needle therapy established by Bunkei Ono.In case one, ureterolithiasis brought colic back pain. Symptoms were improved with satisfaction for one session and the stone discharged via following Kampo-medication.In case two, the patient suffered from colic epigastralgia of choledocholithiasis complicated by severe appetite loss. Although one session successfully extinguished the symptoms, blood chemistry revealed implying signs of cholangitis. A laparotomy with T-tube drainage was performed eventually.These cases pronounced the efficacy of contact needle therapy in the treatment of colic pain and invited deliberate estimation with Modern medicine. The harmony between Kampo and Modern medicine was considered as a prerequisite for clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Lower limb skin ulcers due to arteriosclerosis obliterans are severe ischemic lesions, and if preservation therapies such as antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatments are not effective, lower limb amputation may be necessary.We report the case of 73 year-old male patient suffering from intermittent claudication and skin ulcers on the heel of the left foot, who was successfully treated with keishibukuryogan and daisaikoto prepared in hospital. This case suggests that improvement of micro circulation with the addition of keishibukuryogan and daisaikoto to anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies, safely promoted an improvement of ischemic lesions due to arteriosclerosis obliterans.
Subject(s)
Skin Ulcer , Intermittent Claudication , HospitalsABSTRACT
Aims : To clarify any difficulties that pharmacists and nurses may have when prescribing Kampo medicines to newly-admitted patients with a survey questionnaire at a local hospital ward.Methods : Questions for pharmacists on the handling of Kampo herbs, any perceived risks in the preparation of Kampo formulae powder extracts/pills, or in explaining Kampo medicines, based on their experiences. Also questions for nurses on the handling of Kampo medicines, as compared to western medicines, and any perceived risks in their administration at their ward.Result : All 7 pharmacists and 14 out of the 16 nurses surveyed completed their questionnaires. The pharmacists pointed out that Kampo preparation takes more time, although none perceived an increased risk with Kampo medicines, as compared to western medicines. Only 1 pharmacist had ever had experience explaining Kampo medicines to patients. The nurses, on the other hand, felt that Kampo treatments were somewhat more difficult to use, and perceived similar risk in their administration to patients.Conclusion : Both the pharmacists and nurses surveyed believed that the handling of herb medicines was somewhat difficult, but that these difficulties could be overcome with risk management. This suggests that pharmacist, nurse and office personnel education would be useful before Kampo medicines are administered to newly-admitted hospital patients.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Kampo , RiskABSTRACT
We report on a case of severe generalized pain due to fibromyalgia syndrome, which was successfully treated with a variation of byakkoto. A 65-year-old Japanese woman had severe generalized pain which grew worse in warm environments, such as during the summer or when bathing. She also had pollakidipsia. We utilized a variation of byakkoto on the assumption that she was suffered from high inner heat. Her severe generalized pain resolved with this therapy. Although bushi-zai and saiko-zai are common prescriptions for fibromyalgia syndrome, byakkoto-variations may also be effective in cases where conditions are worsened by heat effect.
Subject(s)
Fibromyalgia , Pain , SyndromeABSTRACT
The literary source of seishitsuketanto, which has been used for intercostal neuralgia, and similar pain in the chest and back, is the text Shou shi bao yuan. We prescribed seishitsuketanto to 5 patients suffering from coldness and/or pain of the thorax. As a result, seishitsuketanto was effective for 4 patients, and not effective for 1 patient. An investigation of the effective cases, an invalid case and references suggest that findings indicating seishitsuketanto have the following features; migratory coldness of the thorax, significant symptoms of disorder in body fluid metabolism, sphygmopalpation without floating pulse, and thoracic pain due to inflammation based on pulmonary insufficiency.
Subject(s)
Thorax , PainABSTRACT
Imatinib mesylate, a specific inhibitor of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, has been mainly used for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Common side effects of imatinib include hematologic toxicity, liver dysfunction, edema, fluid retention, gastrointestinal symptoms, and skin rashes among others. We experienced a patient with imatinib-associated diarrhea, who was successfully treated with hangeshashinto. The patient was 61 year-old female, who first consulted our clinic in June, 2005. Her complaint was frequent diarrhea(4 or 5 times a day) which occurred after the introduction of imatinib. Four weeks after hangeshashinto was administered, her bowel movement improved from watery diarrhea to loose stool twice a day. Eight weeks later, her symptom disappeared. It is generally accepted that imatinib should be administered continuously to obtain a complete clinical remission of CML. From the viewpoint of eastern and western medicine integration, it is significant that a Kampo medicine contributed to continuous therapy with imatinib.
Subject(s)
Imatinib Mesylate , DiarrheaABSTRACT
Boiogito, which has been used for obesity, edema and arthritis by using flabby constitution as a clinical indication, is mentioned in Jin Kui Yao Lue (Synopsis of the Golden Chamber). We experienced five cases of wind-wetness syndrome or edema caused by the pathogen Wind successfully treated with boiogito. There were common findings in these cases, i.e., heavy sweating or perspiration while sleeping, chilly feelings and worsening of the evening subjective symptoms and pulse diagnoses, such as floating, string-like and congested pulse in objective findings. On the basis of these cases, we investigated the efficacy of boiogito extract in 10 patients having the all of common findings mentioned above. As a result, boiogito improved symptoms in 8 patients. This suggests that medical examination by interview and distinctive pulsation are important in deciding the Kampo diagnosis for boiogito.
ABSTRACT
We report three cases of skin disease successfully treated with juzentaihoto. Juzentaihoto has been used traditionally for deficiency of both Ki and Ketsu, and, at present, clinically for the treatment of various skin diseases. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have recently been characterized as the receptors of innate immunity, which are mainly expressed on antigen-presenting cells. We previously reported that juzentaihoto enhanced interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production through modulation of TLR4signaling pathways in murine peritoneal exudative macrophages. Since Langerhans cells, a kind of the antigen-presenting cell, are known to exist in epidermis, we speculate that juzentaihoto improves T helper1and 2 (Th 1/2) balance through modulation of TLR signaling pathways in Langerhans cells. Our cases suggest that influence to acquired immunity through the innate immune signaling is assumed to be one of the mechanisms of juzentaihoto for controlling morbid states of the skin.
Subject(s)
Skin DiseasesABSTRACT
Objects : The purpose of this study is to evaluate objective measurements of skin moisture and its usefulness in the Kampo clinic.Methods : We measured the skin moisture of 6 male volunteers using a sensor twice, in a one to two week interval, and calculated the correlation of both data sets at 66 points. Secondly, we compared the skin moisture data at 10 regions in 81 patients without any skin disease, in a wide age range from 30 s to early 70 s. The ten regions measured were : face, chest, back, abdomen, leg and 4 forearm points, i.e. the inside and outside of the bilateral center forearm, and palm.Results : The correlation of two successively measured data sets showed excellent relation (r=0.716, p<0.0001). The sensor measurement of skin moisture was quite reliable. Measurements of the face, chest and back showed them to be significantly wetter than the abdomen, leg or any of the 4 forearm points. Palm measurements indicated a wetter tendency than for any forearm measurements. Back and abdomen measurements in males were significantly wetter than those in females. There were no significant differences among the data sets, with regards to age. Therefore, any forearm points are clinically useful for the standard measurement of skin moisture. We also demonstrated a case in which skin moisture measurements with a sensor were useful in prescribing and observing the effects of shigyakusan.Conclusion : Utilizing this method may be helpful in acquiring much more objective measurements for Kampo medicine.
Subject(s)
Integumentary System , Forearm , Medicine, KampoABSTRACT
We experienced four cases of urticaria (two patients with cholinergic urticaria, one patient with chronic idiopathic urticaria and one patient with cold urticaria) successfully treated with Kampo therapy. The factors for outbreak or aggravation of urticaria were stress of looking after the father in law and hysterectomy in the first case, psychological stress due to familial trouble in the second case, panic disorder like episode in the third case, and solicitude and anxiety for family in the fourth case. The effective Kampo formulae that improved the dermatological symptom were keishibukuryogan, hangekobokuto, yokukansankachimpihange and kamishoyosan, respectively. It was helpful that to clarify the psychological background affecting the dermatological symptom in the determination of Kampo formulae. It would be useful that careful and repetitious question and answer about psychological background in the treatment of intractable urticaria.
Subject(s)
Urticaria , Medicine, KampoABSTRACT
Hangekobokuto, on the basis of Jin-kui-yao-lue, has been used to treat acute and chronic gastric disease, psychiatric disorders, abnormal sensation in the throat, and edema which gives the feeling of a small food particle obstructing the throat. We experienced 2 cases involving a sense of incongruity in the interscapular region (pain and/or stiffness), which were successfully treated with hangekobokuto extract.On the basis of these first cases, we investigated the efficacy of hangekobokuto extract in 15 patients having both “ki-utsu” and “suitai”, and a sense of incongruity (pain and/or stiffness) in the interscapular region, without the throat-obstructive feeling of a small in-situ food particle.Improvements in complaints were observed in all patients, with a reduction or disappearance of their sense of incongruity in the interscapular region. Thus, it is possible that hangekobokuto could be widely applicable where symptoms of tenderness or a sense of incongruity in the interscapular region occur (especially the sides of the spinous process of thoracic vertebrae 4-7), in addition to the previously documented indications (heart burn, epigastric discomfort and abdominal fullness).
Subject(s)
PharynxABSTRACT
Yokukansankachimpihange has been applied to practical use for some indications such as irritability, excitability, anxiety and insomnia. We report 6 cases of chronic headache patients (tension-type headache [1], migraine [2] and mixed-type headache [3]) with the significant pulsation at pit of stomach and navel, who were successfully treated with Yoku-kan-san-ka-chimpi-hange for prophylaxis. These findings suggest that Yokukansankachimpihange might be useful for not only tension-type headache but also migraine and mixed-type headache.
Subject(s)
Headache , Disease Prevention , Headache Disorders , Migraine DisordersABSTRACT
We experienced four cases of urticaria (two patients with cholinergic urticaria, one patient with chronic idiopathic urticaria and one patient with cold urticaria) successfully treated with Kampo therapy. The factors for outbreak or aggravation of urticaria were stress of looking after the father in law and hysterectomy in the first case, psychological stress due to familial trouble in the second case, panic disorder like episode in the third case, and solicitude and anxiety for family in the fourth case. The effective Kampo formulae that improved the dermatological symptom were keishibukuryogan, hangekobokuto, yokukansankachimpihange and kamishoyosan, respectively. It was helpful that to clarify the psychological background affecting the dermatological symptom in the determination of Kampo formulae. It would be useful that careful and repetitious question and answer about psychological background in the treatment of intractable urticaria.
ABSTRACT
The source of Jiinshihoto, which has been used for patients troubled by chronic cough with Ki obstruction, is Wanbinhuichun. We report on 8 cases with various chronic inflammatory diseases in the airway successfully treated with Jiinshihoto. They had similar symptoms, i. e., chronic coughing both dry and moist, and the abnormal sensations in the throat. Our experience with these cases suggests that tympanitic sound on right half side of the abdomen increase the accuracy of Jiinshihoto usage.
ABSTRACT
Bronchial asthma is manifested pathophysiologically by a narrowing of air passages with eosinophilic inflammation, and clinically by paroxysmal dyspnea. Usually, the treatment of asthma is governed by the Japanese guidelines for the prevention and control of bronchial asthma. We report two cases of bronchial asthma attack successfully treated with Kampo medicine. For their safety, the patients were hospitalized with informed consent, and evaluated carefully by means of various measures, such as pulse oximeter and peak expiratory flow rate.<br>In both cases, no application of additional occidental agents was made, except those used before current episode.<br>However, while modern Western medicine now sweeps over in the treatment of bronchial asthma attack, it is suggested that the Kampo medicine is comparable, in cases where the patients are hospitalized with informed consent, and evaluated carefully. Nevertheless it is proper that the therapy should be intensified in accordance with the guidelines in case of deterioration against the Kampo treatment.
ABSTRACT
Satisfactory results were obtained when Daiou-kanzui-to was administered to a patient suffering from osteoarthritis with Graves' disease.<br>The patient was a 61-year-old female, whose chief complaint was bilateral knee joint pain and leg edema. She was admitted to our clinic in May, 1995. She was diagnosed with Graves' disease and thiamazole was administered for six months. After discharge, the knee joint pain and edema worsened and she was readmitted to our clinic **********. Abdominal examination revealed fullness and lenderness of the lower abdomen. After administration. of Daiou-kanzui-to, the knee joint pain and leg edema improved remarkably, and she was discharged on **********. Although hyperthyroidism was discovered during the second admission, it improved without anti-thyroid drugs after five months of treatment with Daiou-kanzui-to.<br>Despite the fact that Daiou-kanzui-to is a strong purgative, no side effects were observed even with longterm administration. There are only two reports on the use of Daiou-kanzui-to since the Meiji era. The authors investigated old texts concerning abdominal symptoms, such lower abdominal fullness, which characterizes Daiou-kanzui-to, to establish indications for its application.