ABSTRACT
A 26-year-old woman who was diagnosed with mild SLE came to our hospital with the complaints about cutaneous eruptions on her face, head and back, as well as alopecia. We treated her with Sho-saiko-to-go-Oren-gedoku-to-ka-Yokuinin. After that, skin symptoms such as erythema, alopecia and photosensitivity disappeared, and an antinuclear antibody, which had shown 640 times at the first medical examination, became negative about two years later. In addition, the skin symptoms did not relapse and the antinuclear antibody rose very little even though the patient received no further medication for the next year. Our reseach found no other case reports of SLE whose antinuclear antibodies became negative only by Kampo treatment and who was treated with Sho-saiko-to-go-Oren-gedoku-to or its modified formulations.<br>Overall, it seemed to be an interesting case, and it suggests that Kampo medicine may be valuable in treating some cases of mild SLE, and may make steroid treatments unnecessary in the early stages of SLE before the diagnosis has been established.
ABSTRACT
Two cases of patients with acute burns, who were treated with Kampo formulas, are herein presented.<br>Case 1: A 53-year-old woman injured her left foot with boiled oil. She had been treated with an anti-inflammatory agent and dressing for four days before Kampo treatment. But the swelling of the foot became worse. Severe swelling, redness, heat and lots of exudate were apparent. She complained of thirst, which was probably due to loss of Shin'eki. Thus, Eppi-ka-jutsu-to was prescribed. Her symptoms improved within two days. Case 2: A 64-year-old-woman had facial burns from boiling water. She was in severe pain. Shiun-ko was applied topically, and Oren-gedoku-to with Kikyo-sekko was prescribed. The pain subsided promptly. On the next day, swelling, redness and heat were recognized. Eppi-ka-jutsu-to was effective. The local symptoms disappeared within a few days. Kampo treatment may be useful for relief of acute burn symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Oren-gedoku-to (ekisuzai) was used together with conventional dermatological administrations for patients with eczema/dermatitis showing the Jitsunetsusho tendency.<br>The extent of erythematous color and perspiration, the degree of dermatitis, heat and itching sensations, and condition of wetness due to scratching were compared before and after the combination therapy, and the effectiveness of the drug was assessed.<br>Considering the data from laboratory examination and ease of use, the usefulness of the drug was estimated. The subjects were 31 patients with atopic dermatitis (15 cases), chronic eczema (11 cases), autosensitization dermatitis (1 case), seborrheic dermatitis (2 cases), abdominal dermatitis (1 case), and nodular prurigo (1 case). The results of the analysis showed 4 cases (13%) of very useful, 16 cases (52%) of useful, 6 cases (19%) of slightly useful, and 5 cases (16%) of not useful. Heaviness for the stomach and increased levels of the serum liver enzymes were seen in one case each. Oren-gedoku-to (ekisuzai) should be used for patients with eczema/dermatitis showing the Jitsunetsusho tendency.
ABSTRACT
Most patients with taste disorders are usually treated with zinc, but there still remain many untreatable patients, including non-responders and those of advanced age. In this study, we report on three patients with hypogeusia who showed improvement after the administration of Kampo medicine. A 49-year-old female diagnosed with hypogeusia and hyposensation of the oral cavity responded to Oren-gedoku-to. A 43-year-old male diagnosed as having schizophrenia and hypogeusia and a 76-year-old female with idiopathic hypogeusia responded to Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to. Kampo medicines are considered to normalize zinc-related neuro-transmissions originating in the vallate taste buds. Furthermore, the curative effect of Oren-gedoku-to on inflammation-injured oral cavity membranes, and the psychotropic effect of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to on improving hypogeusia, were shown in our patients. It should be noted that the recent increase in aged patients complaining of taste disorders might be related to aging-associated depression. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to or related Kampo formulations are considered to have wide applications for depressed or aged patients with hypogeusia.
ABSTRACT
Low anterior rectal resection was performed for lower rectal sm carcinoma. The patient had not complained of staining his underwear while hospitalized but only when he resumed work as a metal sheet worker. He then started to find his underwear stained with mucus.<br>The operation he had undergone was end to end anastomosis of the sigmoid colon and the rectum with EEA mechanical anastomosis. During the operation, there was an insecure site in one part of the doughnut ring, and therefore another three stitches for total layered suturing were made manually. An artificial anus was introduced temporarily. Since IVH was performed for two weeks after operation, no particular sutural insufficiency was noted.<br>It was assumed that underwear staining with mucus was due to some kind of persistent inflammation at the site of anastomosis. Based on Kampo medicine, the patient was diagnosed as “pathogenic dampness-heat combination”, and was given Oren-gedoku-to to clear away “heat-evil and dampness-evil”. This Kampo preparation proved to be very effective. The underwear staining was reduced considerably, though the anal sphincter remained hypotonic. Hochu-ekki-to was given to elevate and resume sphincteral tension. No report has previously been made concerning the use of a Kampo formulation in mucous staining of the underwear after low anterior rectal resection.