ABSTRACT
We experienced a case of paranoid schizophrenia whose negative symptoms such as fatigue and depression were successfully treated with kamishoyosan and hochuekkito. The combination of medical herbal extracts did not affect positive symptoms. Herbal medicine may play not only a supporting role in treating mental disorders in general but also an important role in improving negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
ABSTRACT
The dosage of crude drugs described in the <i>Shanghanlun </i>has long been discussed, and a conversion ratio for 1 liang in the <i>Songban Shanghanlun </i>into modern grams has not been established yet. <i>Ekisai Kariya</i>, a bibliologist in Edo period Japan, claimed that the formulas in the <i>Songban Shanghanlun </i>could not be decocted when weighed with the “Han shu (lu li zhi)” scale (1 liang = 14 g, “regular scale”), and the weight scale in the text should be “Scale of Shen nong” (1/10 scale of the regular scale). This claim leads to the standards for Kampo prescription dosages. We inspected this matter by focusing on the amount of liquid absorbed by decoction residues, and demonstrated that the formulas in <i>Songban Shanghanlun </i>could actually be decocted when weighed with the “regular scale”. In addition, we calculated the quantities of Ephedra-alkaloids in the one-time dose of “Ma huang tang” of the several books written in the Song period, and the <i>Songban Shanghanlun </i>text, with results showing that Chinese doctors in the Song period recognized 1 liang in the <i>Songban Shanghanlun </i>as 14 grams in modern terms, and that the “regular scale” could be applied clinically. This strongly suggests that the metrological standard in the <i>Songban Shanghanlun </i>should be the “regular scale”.
ABSTRACT
For the purpose of investigating weights in the era when the <i>Shan Han Lun </i>was set forth, the weight and measures described in the <i>Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu</i>, written in the period slightly after the <i>Shan Han Lun</i>, were studied. Some descriptions of the metrological standards are confusing in the <I>Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu</i>. We focused on the measuring container, whose volume is equal to that of the one cun square spoon (fang cun bi), shown in the dun huang version of the <i>Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu</i>. The volume of this measuring container was calculated on the assumption that the measures in this text follow those of the <i>Han Shu Li Li Shi</i>, and a result of 5.07 cm<sup>3 </sup>was obtained. The result was confirmed by using the actual measured values of the crude drugs. The result was also considered to support measurements of the volume in the <i>Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu </i>as following the <i>Han Shu Li Li Shi</i>. With those results, descriptions of the density of honey and lard were examined, and the weight in the <i>Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu </i>was clarified to follow that in the <i>Han Shu Li Li Shi</i>.
ABSTRACT
Saffron (<i>Crocus sativus</i> L.) is classified as a beneficial herb in the treatment of “Oketsu,” eliminating blood stagnation. The clinical symptoms of “Oketsu” include feeling cold and arthralgia. The pathological condition of “Oketsu” is considered to be increased blood viscosity and microvascular disorders.However, no useful biomarker has been reported for evaluation of the degree of “Oketsu.” Here, we investigated the clinical effect of saffron on the symptoms of “Oketsu” in patients with autoimmune diseases. At the same time, we measured the plasma levels of platelet factor 4 (PF-4) and beta-thromboglobulin (β-TG) as platelet activation markers. Seventy-one patients (66 women and 5 men, mean age 52.3 ± 16.1) were studied. They were administered saffron (300mg∼900mg) with traditional Kampo medicine. The clinical symptoms of “Oketsu” improved (80.9%, n=38/47) and we measured PF-4 and β-TG in pre-and post-saffron treatment periods. The plasma levels of PF-4 and β-TG significantly decreased after saffron therapy (PF-4 : before 49.6 ± 29.8, after 24.0 ± 19.6ng/ml, β-TG : before 117.5 ± 64.0, after 64.6 ± 47.1ng/ml;paired t-test, p < 0.0001, respectively). These results suggest that saffron is effective in treatment of the symptoms of “Oketsu” in allergy and collagen disease patients. Moreover, PF-4 and β-TG may be useful biomarkers of the degree of “Oketsu.”