All About Abdominal Palpation-The Traditional Diagnosis Method / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In Japanese Kampo, we use abdominal palpation as a clinical examination method. Abdominal palpation, a kind of tactile inspection method, which in turn is one of the four mainstays inspection methods (palpation, visual, auditory, and verbal), is the most effective technique giving one information to determine a patient's sho diagnosis. Moreover, abdominal palpation is the only clinical examination method of those traditional techniques passed down to the countries and regions of East Asia, which was developed solely in Japan. Abdominal palpation as it is practiced today stems mainly from the <I>Koho-ha</I> Old School of thought, which traces back to ancient <I>Shokanron</I> (Treatise of Cold Damage Disorders) text medicine, although it also influences the <I>Secchu-ha</I> Compromise School of thought. And although an awareness of abdominal palpation is perfunctory, it does require a certain amount of training and proficiency, as it is a skill. In this paper, we discuss abdominal palpation findings amassed over many long years since ancient times.

All About Abdominal Palpation / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In Japanese Kampo, we use abdominal palpation as a clinical examination method. Abdominal palpation, a kind of tactile inspection method, which in turn is one of the four mainstays inspection methods (palpation, visual, auditory, and verbal), is the most effective technique giving one information to determine a patient's sho diagnosis. Moreover, abdominal palpation is the only clinical examination method of those traditional techniques passed down to the countries and regions of East Asia, which was developed solely in Japan. Abdominal palpation as it is practiced today stems mainly from the Koho-ha Old School of thought, which traces back to ancient Shokanron (Treatise of Cold Damage Disorders) text medicine, although it also influences the Secchu-ha Compromise School of thought. And although an awareness of abdominal palpation is perfunctory, it does require a certain amount of training and proficiency, as it is a skill. In this paper, we discuss abdominal palpation findings amassed over many long years since ancient times.

Evaluation of a simulator for teaching clinicians abdominal palpation in the kampo style / 医学教育

In kampo medicine, an illness is considered to affect the entire body, even if the symptoms appear only in the abdomen. Abdominal palpation is considered an important diagnostic physical examination in kampo medicine. Because learning the kampo style of abdominal palpation is difficult, we attempted to simplify the process by developing typical models of 6 important kampo abdominal diagnoses (shinka-hiko, kyokyo-kuman, fukuchokukin-renkyu, shofuku-fujin, shofuku-koman, and shinkabu-shinsuion).1) When we discussed abdominal palpation in lectures on kampo medicine for clinicians we also assessed the opinions and impressions of participants about the abdominal palpation simulators. 2) We administered an anonymous questionnaire survey about interest in kampo medicine, the understanding of abdominal palpation in the kampo style, and an evaluation of the abdominal palpation simulators. We obtained 149 replies from participants of the 11 lectures. 3) Of the participating physicians, 85.2% were interested in kampo medicine. However, 23.5% of physicians were not familiar with abdominal palpation in the kampo style. 4) Furthermore, 58.4% of physicians thought that kampo-style abdominal palpation was explained well or very well in the lecture with the abdominal palpation simulators. The abdominal palpation simulators were judged to be useful or very useful by 72.2% of the physicians. 5) In conclusion, the abdominal palpation simulators were considered to be useful for learning abdominal palpation in the kampo style, even though these simulators have some shortcomings. These models may be useful for simplifying the learning of abdominal palpation by students of kampo medicine.

Improvement of A Simulator Production Project for Abdominal Palpation in Kampo Medical Training / 日本東洋医学雑誌

In Kampo medicine, sickness is regarded as affecting the whole body even though the symptoms may appear obvious only in the abdomen. This makes abdominal palpation an important means of physical examination, and diagnosis. Because learning abdominal palpation in the Kampo style is very difficult, we attempted to simplify learning by building typical anatomical abdomen models for training. To create six abdominal models : Shinka-hiko, Kyokyo-kuman, Fukuchokukin-renkyu, Shofuku-fujin, Shofuku-koman, and Shinkabu-sinsuion, we employed several materials, including artificial leather for epidermal tissue, pile fabric for subcutaneous tissue, cotton cloth or jersey cloth for membrane tissue, polyurethane or natural rubber for muscle tissue, specialized polyester resin for costae, and cotton for internal organs. We employed a harder polyurethane, for example, in Shinka-hiko to simulate resistance in the region beneath the heart, in Kyokyo-kuman to simulate resistance in the subcostal region, and in Shofuku-koman to simulate horseshoe-shaped resistance in the lower abdominal region. Otherwise, in Shofuku-fujin, a lack of resistance was simulated by a defect in the polyurethane at the center of the lower abdominal region. Shinkabu-sinsuion was modeled using a water dabbling sound via a water-filled balloon that could be gently shaken with the fist in the region above the navel. Fukuchokukin-renkyu was modeled as excessive strain of the rectus abdominis muscles via the use of natural rubber. We tried to represent the tenderness on pressure at the para-umbilical region, cecal region, and sigmoid region in the Shofuku-koman model by making a specialized switch with conducting rubber, and using electric device and battery. We believe these models are useful teaching devices, in that they simplify Kampo abdominal palpitation training.

The Correlation Between Signs of Kampo Medicine and Visceral Fat Obesity / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Visceral fat obesity is closely associated with lifestyle-related diseases that include symptoms such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, etc. To examine the correlation between pulse, appearance of tongue, and abdominal palpation-diagnostic indicators according to Kampo medicine-and visceral fat obesity, we investigated 209 subjects who received health screenings, and obtained the following results. 1) The simply obese subjects, as determined by body mass index, showed symptoms of excess state, Kidepression, and stasis of body fluids according to the diagnostic techniques of Kampo medicine. 2) The visceral fat-rich subjects were diagnosed by means of abdominal ultrasonography and showed symptoms of pulsus maximum and Oketsu (blood stasis) state.

A Study of Classical Techniques of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Japan: With Emphasis on Abdominal Palpation and Needle Tapping / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Studying traditional techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion in Japan is indispensable both when tracing the history of acupuncture and moxibustion in Japan as a traditional form of medicine and when using acupuncture and moxibustion to deal with diverse diseases in modern Japanese people. Japanese techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion have been gradually evolving since the Muromachi Era. Techniques were developed, tailored to Japanese cultural and racial characteristics. Among these techniques, abdominal palpation and needle tapping, developed by the Mubun School, are particularly noteworthy and deserve world-wide attention. The author recently investigated the methods and views of various classical schools of acupuncture and moxibustion in Japan, emphasizing study of abdominal palpation and needle tapping and exploring common features of these techniques across different schools. The author found that abdominal palpation is suitable for detecting vertical or horizontal shifts in Qi (vital energy) and Ketsu (nourishing energy) in the human body, and that when applying abdominal acupuncture, it is essential to restore the balance of Qi and Ketsu in each direction around the umbilicus.

The Correlation Between Abdominal Palpation Signs of Kampo Medicine and Laboratory Data / 日本東洋医学雑誌

There have been few studies on the relationship between the body mass index (BMI), complete blood cell count, blood chemistry, fatty liver evidence and Kampo abdominal palpation signs. This study was designed to clarify the above points. It involved 484 subjects who had undergone full physical examinations. The results of this study, can be summarized as follows:<br>1. Abdominal tension (traditionally referred to as “fukuryoku”) was related to BMI (males and females), TG, TCh/HDL, GPT, RBC, Hb and evidence of fatty liver (males) and corresponded negatively with HDL (males).<br>2. Tonus of the rectus abdominis muscle (“fukuhikokyu”) was negatively related to BMI (males).<br>3. The sound of gurgling liquid in the stomach (“shinsuion”) was negatively related to BMI (males and females).<br>4. Palpitations of the abdominal aorta in the upper abdomen (“shinkaki”) was related toHDL (males) and negatively related to BMI (males and females).<br>5. Palpitation of the abdominal aorta below the navel (“saikaki”) was negatively related to BMI (males).

The Correlation Between Abdominal Palpation Signs of Kampo Medicine and Anatomical and Physiological Findings of the Cardio-respiratory System / 日本東洋医学雑誌

There have been few studies of the relationship between respiratory function, chest x-rays, electrocardiograms, and the abdominal palpation signs of Kampo medicine. This investigation was designed to elucidate the above points with 489 subjects who had undergone a full physical examination. As a result of this study, we make clear the following features:<br>1. Abdominal tension (traditionally referred to as “fukuryoku”) was related to vital capacity, lateral distance of the thorax, CTR, counter-clockwised axis deviation of QRS, and negatively related to the intra-vertical thoracic distance.<br>2. Sound of gurgling fluid in the abdomen (“Shinsuion”) was related to intravertical distance of the thorax, clockwise axis deviation of QRS, negatively related to the lateral distance of the thorax, width of the heart and CTR.<br>3. Tonus of the rectus abdominis muscles was related to vital capacity and intravertical distance of the thorax and negatively related to the lateral distance of the thorax.<br>4. Palpitation of the abdominal aorta (traditionally called “Shinkaki”, “seijouki”, and “saikaki”) revealed nega tive correlation to the lateral distance of the thorax and width of the heart.<br>5. Resistance or tenderness upon pressure in the epigastric resion (“shinkahiko”) was negatively related to the intrathoracic distance.<br>6. Resistance resembling a string of pearls in the midline of the lower abdomen (“seichushin”) was related to intravertical distance of the thorax, clockwise axis deviation of QRS, and negatively related to SV 1 electro cardiogram voltage.