ABSTRACT
This report describes 20 women who underwent in vitro fertilization or microinsemination while receiving a regimen of herbal medicine, of which contents varied according to the treatment stage. Until the ova were harvested, in order to promote maturation, patients were treated with hachimijiogan for reinforcing kidney yang, and keishibukuryogan for removing blood stasis. Following this, during the period between harvesting and implantation, they were treated either exclusively with unkeito for warming meridians, dissipates cold, and replenishes blood, or with unkeito in combination with keishibukuryogan. Following implantation, they were treated with tokishakuyakusan to induce uterine relaxation. The treatment regimen was determined based on traditional herbal evidence of infertile patient's blood stasis and kidney deficiency. We adjusted applied dose depending on the conditions of patients. Fourteen of the 20 women tested positive for pregnancy; 10 of them carried to term, whereas in 4 of them, the pregnancy ended in abortion or miscarriage. Anti-Müllerian hormone concentration, endometrial thickness, estimated follicle count, recovered ova count, fertilized ova count, and numbers of ova to reach the early-embryo stage and blastocyst stage were compared between the continuing pregnancy and the non-pregnancy groups. Improvements were observed in all values after combined use of traditional herbal medicines, except in the case of endometrial thickness, and significant differences appeared in recovered ova count and fertilized ova count. These observations suggest that a regimen of herbal medicine adapted to the various stages of in vitro fertilization may be a useful complementary therapy during pregnancy.
ABSTRACT
Trigger finger develops because of stenosis around the A1 annular ligament, which causes inhibition of smooth expansion and contraction of the finger. It is effectively treated by an anti-inflammatory analgesic and/or steroid infusion, and by Western style medical surgery. Here, we report 3 cases of trigger finger effectively treated with unkeito. The first case was a 71-year-old female who had been treated with Kampo medicine for an enlarged feeling in the abdomen. She complained of trigger finger, in the knuckle of her right third finger, dry lips, and hot flashes in her hands and feet. The second case was a 56-year-old female who had been treated with Kampo medicine for polyarticular pain in her fingers. She complained of trigger finger of the left fourth finger and hot flashes in her hands. The third case was a 71-year-old female who had been treated for chronic renal failure. She complained of trigger finger in the left first finger and dry skin but had neither hot flashes in the hands nor dry lips. One of the target symptoms of unkeito is hot flashes in the hands and dry lips. Unkeito is composed of herbs which improve <i>ketsu </i>deficiency, <i>oketsu</i>, inflammation, and dry skin. It is possible that these actions of unkeito are effective in trigger finger as well.
ABSTRACT
Chinese herbal remedy (KAMPO) is no longer an out-of-date medicine. It is now transforming into a new medical care system that attracts world-wide attention. The therapeutic system of Oriental Medicine is different in various aspects from that of Occidental Medicine. In this regard, appropriate harmonization of East and West (Oriental Medicine and Occidental Medicine) by comparison with merits and demerits in the understanding of diseases, methods of consultation, usage of drugs, etc. is expected to improve the quality of medical care. Considering that most of the drugs used in the Occidental Medicine are based on “single effective ingredient” that is artificially synthesized while herbal drugs are produced by combining crude drugs that contain various ingredients, the method of administration should naturally be changed.Such stance of Kampo medicine is based on the “respect for and understanding of individual constitution and disposition while paying attention to the gender difference and individuality” with the patient as the protagonist (treatment that is centered on client) and is also based on understanding and respecting the gender difference and individuality that are the basis of so-called “Science and Art” of practical medicine.
Subject(s)
Medicine , Medicine, Kampo , ComprehensionABSTRACT
Unkei-to was used successfully to treat three patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSjS). The first case was a 67-year-old woman. In April 1993, she visited Tonami General Hospital with the symptom of dry eyes. Her condition was diagnosed as pSjS from being antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive, dry eye, and decrease of saliva secretion. She used eye drops, but her dry eye did not improve, she visited our department in June 1995. Administration of Unkei-to improved her symptoms after 6 months of treatment.<br>The second case was a 73-year-old woman. In 1987, she was treated in our hospital for lumbago based on spondylosis. In 1991, she began to suffer from pain and swelling of the right sterno-clavicular joint (RSCJ) and was admitted. She was anti-SS-A/Ro ANA positive, schirmer's test was positive, lymphocyte infiltration was observed by lip biopsy, and thus pSjS was diagnosed. Treatment with Unkei-to resulted in the improvement of pain and swelling of RSCJ, as well as a decrease in serum C-reactive protein. But a favorable effect on dry mouth was not attained in this case.<br>The third case involved a 39-year-old woman who began to experience polyarthralgia and dry mouth in June 1991. She visited a neighborhood hospital and was diagnosed as pSjS from hyper γ-globulinemia, anti SS-A ANA positivity, and decrease of saliva secretion. She first visited our hospital in March 1994. We administered Keishikaryojutubu-to and improvement of polyarthralgia was observed. Subsequently, she suffered from symptoms of dry eye and dry mouth. We treated her with Unkei-to, which improved the symptoms of dryness, but not polyarthralgia in this case.<br>These observations suggest that Unkei-to might be a useful agent for the treatment of pSjS.
ABSTRACT
A 26-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of infertility. Initially treatment was given based on clomiphene for induction of ovulation. However, she suffered from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) due to the clomiphene, accompanied by abdominal pain. Unkei-to was decided on as the best mode of treatment since clomiphene could not be continued. The patient's basal body temperature (BBT) returned to its biphasic cycle. Three months later, natural pregnancy occurred that resulted in the birth of a healthy boy by normal delivery.<br>Unkei-to is frequently given for a variety of gynecological disorders, such as irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, discharge, climacteric disturbance, etc.<br>Although induction of ovulation is often a necessary and effective infertility therapy, multiple pregnancies and OHSS can be problematic. The present case suggests that Unkei-to may be effective for infertility involving clomiphene-induced OHSS