ABSTRACT
The meridian system is a popular concept in traditional Chinese medicine. Meridians are channels through which the life energy (qi) flows and are important in herbal medicine as pathways associated with drug entry and distribution. This report describes a patient with chronic eczema successfully treated with Japanese (Kampo) herbal medicine, keigairengyoto (containing the Angelica dahurica root). A woman in her 40 s presented with a 3-year history of eczema on both hands to upper arms that was refractory to treatment. Her eczema was observed to be distributed along the lung meridians of hand-taiyin (the channel for the A. dahurica root), and keigairengyoto therapy was initiated after which her eczema significantly resolved. Knowledge of meridians and the concept of channels of entry of herbal medicines may be useful in diagnostic and therapeutic management of several diseases.
ABSTRACT
[<b>Objective</b>] In this study, we retrospectively investigated the efficacy of Kampo medicine for refractory acne patients with standard therapy in Japan.<br>[<b>Patients</b>] Two hundred and thirty nine patients with inflammatory acne completed the study. Six Patients discontinued their systemic treatment because of adverse events. The patients included 193 females and 46 males, with a mean age of 26.5 years. They took Kampo medicine three times daily for 3 months, in a manner according to our protocol.<br>[<b>Result</b>] For females, 163 of 199 patients (82%) were in the KUOKETSUZAI Group taking medicines such as keisibukuryogankayokuinin, tokishakuyakusan, tokakujyokito, and kamishoyosan. Here, 124 of 163 patients (76%) had a significant decrease in new and inflammatory eruptions after taking the Kampo medicines alone or in combinations with other KUOKETSUZAI medicines. Fourteen of 19 patients (74%) took seijobofuto, of which 6 of 7 females (86%), and 1 of 3 males (33%) had decreased acne eruptions. Also in KUOKETSUZAI group, significant efficacy was shown in females over 21 years of age on combinations. For males, 18 of 23 patients (78%) taking keigairengyoto and 14 of 20 patients (70%) taking seijobofuto, also had decreased inflammatory acne eruptions.<br>[<b>Conclusion</b>] Kampo medicines exhibit significant efficacy for the treatment of the refractory acne.<br>KUOKESTUZAI : category of oriental medicines that improve peripheral blood flow while concurrently facilitating wound healing, and that regulate hormone balance, and improve gastrointestinal motility ; e.g. keisibukuryogankayokuinin, tokishakuyakusan, tokakujyokito, kamishoyosan.
ABSTRACT
Wells' syndrome (eosinophilic cellulitis), whose etiology is idiopathic, is clinically characterized by solitary or multiple cellulitis-like eruptions which occur on the extremities and trunk. Corticosteroids are usually used for palliative treatment, but relapses are often observed. We observed an 8 year-old patient with Wells' syndrome successfully treated with Kampo medicines. In 2001, skin eruptions appeared on his extremities. In 2002, a histopathologic examination determined his disease to be Wells' syndrome, and corticosteroids were subsequently used for treatment. In January 2007, his skin eruptions worsened, and he first visited our outpatient clinic in May. After oral administration with keigairengyoto, his skin eruptions were slightly improved, but afterwards, they again worsened. In June, jumihaidokuto was administered instead of the former prescription, and the skin conditions had begun to improve. Because dry skin appeared in November, keigairengyoto was again added. With these treatments, his skin eruptions stably improved. In previous reports, Kampo medicines had not been used for the treatment of Wells' syndrome. This case, however, suggests that Kampo medicines are a candidate for the treatment of Wells' syndrome.
ABSTRACT
We successfully treated 5 patients with seborrheic dermatitis using Kampo medicine. Three of these patients presented with facial the lesions which had persisted for 1 to 2 years despite their having received treatment with steroid ointments or ketokonazol lotions. We treated these patients with jumihaidokuto and they recovered significantly within a few months. The two remaining patients presented with scalp lesions, which had persisted for10and 25 years respectively. We treated them with a combined formulation of keigairengyoto, makyoyokukanto and yokukansankachimpihange, and they improved remarkably after 2 and 8 months respectively.