ABSTRACT
Zentai (Cicadae Periostracum) is classified by traditional Chinese medicine as one of the “pungent cool-natured” drugs, but its pharmacological action is not well known yet.<br>Zentai is used in Shofu-san as an expelling pathogenic wind component for relieving itchiness for patients with eczema, dermatitis, urticaria, etc.<br>We examined a number of patients with atopic dermatitis whose condition worsened after they were treated with Zentai to relieve itchiness.<br>In the current study, five male and ten female adolescent/adult patients were randomly selected to receive 2.5g of Zentai. These patients had been treated with Kagen-ichiin-sen-ka-kiban-kyo and their skin conditions had been stable so far.<br>In a follow-up two weeks later, the water content of the horny layer of skin at the forehead and the anterior side of the forearm decreased significantly (p<0.05). In terms of the level of itchiness, two patients (13.3%) improved, nine patients (60%) worsened, and the other four (26.7%) remained unchanged.<br>The current study indicates that Zentai worsens dry skin and exacerbates itchiness. Care will be required in the use of Zentai for the treatment of atopic dermatitis because of its drying pharmacological character.
ABSTRACT
Atopic dermatitis in adolescents and adults has severe erythema and desquamation, particularly on the face and the neck, and is often resistant for various treatments. We previously reported the case of intractable erythematous dry-type atopic dermatitis where Kagen-ichiin-sen-ka-kiban-kyo was effect. Kagenichiin-sen-ka-kiban-kyo has an effect for nourishing <i>Yin and Blood</i>. Although its antiinflammatory effect is weak, we expected it would improve the deteriorated barrier function of the skin by moistening dry skin, and treat the atopic dermatitis more fundamentally. This time aiming broad application for the lesion of exudative eczema, we treated atopic dermatitis by using sekko-added Kagen-ichiin-sen-ka-kiban-kyo (Kagen-ichiin-sen-ka-kiban-kyo-sekko). The moisture content of the forehead and the extensor surface of forearm sequentially increased. And IgE-KIST and LDH, the markers of the state of a disease, were significantlly reduced. Good results were given; 68.8% of efficacy in men and 77.8% in women.<br>This Kampo formulation is assumed one of the effective formulations for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.