RESUMEN
There have been some reports that keishikaryukotsuboreito improves climacteric symptoms such as palpita tion, but none have reported coldness successfully treated with this formulation. We report a case of palpita tion and coldness, successfully treated with keishikaryukotsuboreito.<br>The patient was a 48-year-old female. She complained of palpitation and coldness for 2 to 3 years. She had coldness of the hands and feet without hot flushes. She consulted our clinic on May 8, XXXX. We prescribed keishikaryukotsuboreito (7.5 g/day) because of suggestive symptoms of insomnia, as well as palpitation in the abdomen. Her symptoms improved in 2 weeks. Keishikaryukotsuboreito is usually prescribed for cold feet with hot flushes. The results experienced in this case suggest that keishikaryukotsuboreito may be effective for cold feet without hot flushes, especially with palpitation and pulsation at the navel, which are known symp toms of <i>qi </i>counterflow in Kampo medicine.
RESUMEN
This study was designed to investigate the association between autonomic nervous activities and clinical symptoms of climacteric women with qi disturbance. Power spectral analysis of heart-rate variability (HRV) was performed in 55 climacteric patients with undefined symptoms (age;51.9±2.8). The total power of HRV in patients with hot flushes was significantly higher (529.6±529.9ms2) than that of patients without this symptom (295.4±260.8 ms2) (P<0.05). The sympathetic nerve system (SNS) index in patients with hot flushes and with jitters (2.81±2.93 and 3.16±2.78), was significantly higher than those of patients without them (1.03±0.78 and 0.87±0.72) (P<0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively). The parasympathetic nerve system (PNS) index of patients with hot flushes and patients with jitters (0.38±0.19 and 0.33±0.16) was significantly lower than those of patients without them (0.55±0.17 and 0.58±0.14) (P<0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively). These findings indicate that HRV-based assessment of the autonomic nervous system activity of climacteric women with hot flushes and jitters, which have been known as symptoms of qi counterflow in the Kampo medicine, is associated with an increase in sympathetic nerve system and a decrease in parasympathetic nerve system activity. It has been suggested that autonomic nervous activities be included in the part of pathological condition of qi in the Kampo medicine, and that evaluation of qi be used as one diagnostic tool in the practical Kampo medicine, or fusion of western and oriental medicine.
RESUMEN
In the United States, gender-specific medicine has advanced since 1980, and medical centers dealing with women's disease have been established. In Japan, number of the outpatient care units which address women's disease exclusively, have been established over the past two to three years. We believe that this is because the following kinds of medical care are being sought:<br>1) The gender-specific medical care<br>2) Medical treatments that are tailored individually, based on specific female body structures and psychology<br>3) All-round medical care, based on mind-body correlations<br>4) Care which improves the patients' quality of life<br>The goal of Kampo medicine is not only all-round medical care, but also therapy tailored to the individual. In the climacteric period of a woman's life, ovary activity declines against increased secretion of gonadotropin in the sexual center. In other words, endocrine disorders such as a rapid decline of estrogen secretion, affect the autonomic nervous system via catecholamine in the hypothalamus, patients consequently present with various indefinite complaints. This phenomenon is called climacteric disorder. In addition, this decrease of estrogen increases the frequency of the bone mass loss, lipid metabolism abnormalities, urinary disease, and vaginal wall atrophies seen. Not to mention the increased frequency of life-style related diseases (diabetes mellitus, obesity, malignant tumor, liver cirrhosis, etc.) that will arise.<br>Although climacteric disorder is triggered by endocrine disturbance, it takes on the symptoms of autonomic instability as time passes, and therefore cannot necessarily be called an estrogen deficiency syndrome. Kampo drugs are very effective in the treatment of such functional diseases. However, Kampo therapy must be carried out in accordance with oriental medical concepts, and their diagnostic techniques. It is useful to introduce the concept of “ki-ketsu-sui”, when treating climacteric symptoms. From a Kampo standpoint, many climacteric symptoms are pathological conditions, with “oketsu” at their core, which can be modified by “ki” and “sui”.<br>Here we show prescriptions which are frequently used in clinical practice. In addition, we review the effectiveness and limitations of Kampo therapy, for the treatment of climacteric diseases other than climacteric disorder. Finally, we refer to future issues, concerning outpatient care exclusively for women.
RESUMEN
Serum estrogen levels and bone mineral contents were measured to study their changes during treatment of climacteric disorder with Kampo therapy.<br>Sixty-five patients who visited the outpatient department of climacteric hormones received either (1) estrogen, (2) Kampo therapy (Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, Keishi-bukuryo-gan, or Tokaku-joki-to) or (3) a calcium preparation alone or only psychological therapy (no drug treatment), for six months. Group (3) was treated as the control. Serum E2 levels, bone mineral contents, and cortical bone width index, etc., were determined before and after treatment.<br>In patients treated with Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, blood E2 levels increased. In patients treated with Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to or Tokaku-joki-to, reductions in bone mineral content and the cortical bone width index were suppressed. We therefore concluded that Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to is effective in preventing osteoporosis. This study also suggests that a combination of Kampo therapy and a calcium preparation may be highly beneficial in preventing menopausal osteoporosis.