RESUMEN
There are many reports that keisikajutsubuto is effective against inflammation of finger and wrist joints, such as from snapping the fingers or scleroderma. We prescribed keisikajutsubuto for 16 orthopedic outpatients with DIP joint arthralgia and pain (Heberden nodes) on the basis of this information. The 16 cases were all women, and the age ranged from 57 to 80 years with an average of 63.4 years. The disease period ranged from 6 months to 15 years with an average of 4 years and 6 months. Eleven cases were diagnosed with deficiency pattern indicating a weak constitution and poor circulation, and 5 cases were medium pattern. Seven of the 16 patients were thin with a BMI of 20 or less. In 4 cases the inflammation of a tendon sheath on the finger was complicated. It took 3 months (from 2 to 8 months) for joint pain to be reduced. Eight patients continued taking 2.5 g of keisikajutsubuto afterwards. The joint deformity was not worse in any case. In all patients, the pain completely disappeared, or partial recovery was obtained. In addition, the local feeling of heat in the joints disappeared in all cases. Keishikajutsubuto was an effective Kampo medicine against finger joint arthritis.