Effectiveness of self-care with Indirect moxibustion on hiesho (Cold Disorder) in Mature Females / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We evaluated the effects of self­care with indirect moxibustion (moxibustion group : MG) on hiesho (cold disorder) in mature females in a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial using leg warmers (leg warmers group : LG) as a control. Subjects were 49 women aged 18 to 39 years who were judged to suffer from hiesho as measured by the hiesho sensation scale (Kusumi and Emori). Subjects were sorted by age and block-­randomized at each of the four facilities. Before going to bed, subjects in the MG (N = 25) performed two moxibustions on both sides of kI 1, SP 6, and ST 36. Subjects in the LG (N = 24) wore leg warmers while sleeping. Each intervention lasted for one month. The primary endpoint was the degree of hiesho by visual analogue scale (VAS) ; secondary endpoints were mainly suffering scores for comorbid symptoms and body temperature difference between forehead and peripheries. Two subjects in the LG dropped out due to preg­nancy and skin pruritus, respectively. The change in VAS and suffering scores was larger in the MG, showing small ES in VAS and medium ES in suffering scores. Body temperature difference between the forehead and LI 4 on both sides was reduced in the MG, and medium ES was observed. It was suggested that self-care of indirect moxibustion for hiesho in mature females could reduce the degree of hiesho and comorbid symptoms, and could suppress the expansion of body temperature difference between forehead and peripheries compared to wearing leg warmers.

<b>Effectiveness of Acupuncture Therapy on </b><i><b>Hiesho </b></i><b>(Cold Disorder) in Maturate Stage Females : A Multicenter, Randomized, Prospective, Controlled T</b><b>rial</b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

<p><b>Objective </b>: To determine the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy on <i>hiesho </i>in maturate stage females.<br> <b>Design </b>: Multicenter, randomized, prospective, open blind, waiting list-controlled trial.<br><b>Setting </b>: A clinical center attached to three universities and one vocational school.<br><b>Participants </b>: Twenty two females between 18-39 years of age and with a level of more than four points on the “<i>hiesho </i>sensation scale” proposed by Kusumi et al for <i>hiesho</i>. <b>Interventions </b>: Participants were randomly assigned to receive therapies of either acupuncture or no therapy (waiting list controls). Acupuncture therapy was provided by needle retention to SP 6 and electro-acupuncture therapy to BL 32 at a frequency of 1 Hz for 20 minutes. One session per week of this therapy was provided for a total of four sessions. <b>Method of Measurement </b>: The primary outcome of change in <i>hiesho </i>intensity was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary changes were measured by an eight heading score and three component summaries of the standard edition SF-36 v 2.<br><b>Results </b>: The statistical analyses used an intent-to-treat analysis that included two participants who dropped out, and the mixture of one participant targeted for exclusion who was censored from the analyses. As a result, 21 participants were classified as either in the acupuncture group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 9). Efficacy with acupuncture therapy was not found for effect size (Cohen <i>d</i>, point-biserial correlation <i>r</i>) for VAS and the scores of SF-36 between the two groups.<br><b>Conclusions </b>: Effectiveness of the acupuncture therapy was not found, which suggests that it may be due to the smaller sample size, frequency of intervention, and symptoms associated with autonomic dysfunction.</p>

Behaviour factor in Hiesho (excessive sensitivity to cold symptoms), health-related QOL and BMI in male and female subjects who feel Hiesho / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objectives]We investigated the behaviour factors in Hiesho (excessive sensitivity to cold symptoms), a summary score of Health-related QOL (SF-8) and Body Mass Index (BMI) in subjects who feel Hiesho (hereinafter referred to as Hiesho Subjects), in relation to sex, and showed the future direction of acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.<BR>[Methods]After approval by the Ethics Committee, we obtained written informed consent from the participants in this study. Participants were 753students in a vocational college. The study was performed with questionnaires, which were delivered by hand to the participants in September, 2008. We analyzed 629 subjects (538 males and 91 females, mean age of 27.4 ± 6.8) whose responses were valid. The questionnaire consisted of age, sex, height, weight, subjective Hiesho, 24 behaviour patterns of Hiesho according to a previous study, and Health-related QOL (SF-8, Japanese version). We used two summaries -physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) -which are derived from standard values (scores) in the nation on eight scales of SF-8 calculated using the special scoring software. Total scores of behaviour patterns of Hiesho subjects (HIE Scores) and summary scores and BMI in male and female subjects were statistically analyzed using covariance structure analysis technique in multiple populations (Amos Ver. 7).<BR>[Results]In our model, the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and Root Mean Squares Error of Approximation were 1.00, 75.886 and 0.00, respectively, which showed a high degree of compatibility. We found the relations from Hiesho Scores to PCS (β=-0.175, p < 0.01) and MCS (β=-0.179, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.089, p=0.038) in male Hiesho subjects. In contrast, in female Hiesho subjects, there were relations from Hiesho scores to MCS (β=-0.601, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.244, p < 0.05).<BR>[Discussion]From the results of our investigation, Hiesho was considered not to be associated with Health-related QOL in male Hiesho subjects but to be associated with mental factors in female Hiesho subjects.<BR>[Conclusions]It was shown that we should consider the patient's sex in acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.

A Case of Atypical Facial Pain Treated with Toki-shigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to / 日本東洋医学雑誌

A case of atypical facial pain treated with Toki-shigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to was reported. The patient was a 30-year-old female with oversensitivity to cold. She had suffered from intractable atypical facial pain in her left cheek for eight years. Diagnostic images showed no organic lesion and microvascular compression along the left trigeminal nerve. Although conventional medical therapy had not been successful in relieving the pain, Toki-shigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to, in combination with several analgetic agents, was therapeutically effective. Later, Toki-shigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to alone was effective in relieving painful episode.

Treating Excessive Cold Sensitivity ("Hiesho") with Acupuncture Therapy / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

A 29 year-old female patient with excessive cold sensitivity (“hiesho”) was regularly treated with acupuncture therapy. She complained of symptoms from autumn to winter, and her symptoms were also susceptible to changes in temperature. From the oriental medical diagnosis, we found that she exhibited “oketsu” and “suitai”. The effects of acupuncture therapy were comprehensively assessed by the Oketsu score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) thermograms, etc. We also examined the influence of temperature and menstrual periods on cold sensitivity.<BR>After five months of this therapy (eight times), the Oketsu score and VAS showed a decrease. In addition, this therapy held to elevate the skin temperatures of extremities. It was noted that the temperarure, rather than the menstrual periods, had a stronger influence on VAS. These results were that the acupuncture therapy was effective against the cold sensitivity.

The Effects of Acupuncture Therapy on Cold Hands and Feet("Hiesho"). The Relationship between Cold Hands and Feet("Hiesho") and Blood Stagnation "Oketsu" / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The relationship between coldness of the hands and feet (“Hiesho”) and Blood Stagnation (“Oketsu”), a disorder description unique to Oriental Medicine, was examined using the Oketsu score of five Hiesho cases based on the Terasawa Oketsu Diagnostic Criteria. The effects of acupuncture treatment were studied by evaluating Oketsu symptoms and accompanying complaints, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and subjective evaluation of coldness of the hands and feet.<br>The results were as follows:<br>1) 100% of the five females with Hiesho were also positive for the Oketsu factor.<br>2) The Oketsu score showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) upon treatment with acupuncture.<br>3) An improvement in subjective Hiesho symptoms (VAS) was seen in three of the five cases upon acupuncture treatment.<br>4) It was suggested that the subjective improvement in Hiesho symptoms, i. e., coldness of the hands and feet, was related to the disappearance of the resistance and pain upon pressure in the ileocecal region that is characteristic of Oketsu, and the improvement in menstrual disorders.