A Case of Atopic Dermatitis Successfully Treated with Daiseiryuto / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We report a case of atopic dermatitis that was successfully treated with daiseiryuto. The patient was a 31-year-old Japanese female, who had atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma since childhood. Recently, her itching, as well as her bronchial asthma, had simultaneously worsened. We diagnosed the patient with “exterior excess” (hyoujitsu), because she complained of anhidrosis. She also complained of being thirsty, suggestive of “interior heat” (rinetsu). Furthermore, her severe itching reminded us of “restlessness” (hansou). According to these Kampo observations, we prescribed daiseiryuto. After several weeks of taking the medication, the patient's asthma attacks had disappeared completely. The severe itching had also improved within a couple of months, and the skin eruptions disappeared in about 6 months. We think that daiseiryuto is a useful formulation for itching of the skin, and that it could be applied to many skin disorders besides atopic dermatitis, because severe itching of the skin can be interpreted as “restlessness” (hansou) in many cases. Daiseiryuto is safe for long-term use by comparatively young, strong patients, but a precaution must be taken in prescribing it to patients with a past history of ischemic heart disease, because daiseiryuto has a high Ephedrae herba content.

The Clinical Efficacy of Combination Therapy with Kampo and Western Medicine to Japanese Cedar Pollinosis / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We investigated the clinical efficacy of concomitant Kampo treatments, expected to have immediate effect in improving outcomes with western drug therapies for Japanese cedar pollinosis. Twenty cases using shoseiryuto, considered a first-line drug for allergic rhinitis, were studied. The resultant efficacy rate was 45%. The efficacy rate for 24 cases using eppikajutsuto, by contrast, was 64%. The latter cases demonstrated far better therapeutic result than the former. In 7 cases using maoto + eppikajutsuto (as simplified daiseiryuto), another prescription we often use for serious illness, the resultant efficacy rate was 72%. Of these, the most favorable effect resulted in 16 cases using shoseiryuto + gokoto, which resulted in an efficacy rate of 87%. We had originally developed this prescription in order to improve the effectiveness of mao and sekko as anti-inflammatories. There were no cases where patients needed to be dosed with an oral steroid. The only notable event was one patient who complained of stomachache as an adverse drug reaction. In conclusion, we can say that the overall therapeutic outcome with 11 different Kampo medicines was extremely satisfactory: an efficacy rate of 83%. These marked improvements in clinical efficacy were made by using Kampo medicines together with a western drug used for the treatment of Japanese cedar pollinosis.

A Case Report of Rheumatoid Arthritis Successfully Treated with Dai-seiryu-to-ka-daio / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We report a case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that showed improvement after treatment with Daiseiryu-to-kadaiou. The patient was a 77-year-old woman diagnosed with RA in 1988. She had been visiting our department regularly since 1994. Oral steroids were used for two weeks in May 1994, but were discontinued due to a bacterial infection of the artificial femoral head. Thereafter, treatment was continued with bucillamine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and various Kampo medicines. Joint pain worsened in November 2001. She was hospitalized on **********, as the CRP level had elevated to 15.2mg/dl. She had been taking bucillamine for seven years, but it had already been assessed as ineffective. It was discontinued upon hospitalization, and treatment with Daiseiryu-to-kadaiou was immediately begun. By ******, the patient judged the pain in both knees to have improved by about 50 percent. Moreover, the CRP level decreased to 2.4mg/dl by *******. The Lansbury index also improved from 100 percent to 69 percent during her hospitalization, and she was discharged on *******. Based on this experience, it is suggested that the prescription of Daiseiryu-to-kadaiou be considered in the treatment of RA patients.

The Analogous State of Hyper-functioning Condition in the Initial Stage of Yang Disease with Ectodermal Symptoms (Tai yang bing) Induced by Interferon, and its Pulse Diagnosis / 日本東洋医学雑誌

We reported that Interferon (IFN) induces the analogous state of the initial stage of Yang disease with ectodermal symptoms (tai yang bing). Flu-like symptoms from IFN treatment were reduced or disappeared with Mao-to and Dai-seiryu-to. We consider that flu-like symptoms induced by IFN can be a symptomatic model of hyper-functioning condition of tai yang bing. Pulse of sinking and deficiency was seen in all five patients with the symptoms of having caught a chill. These results suggest that there is the possibility that pulse of sinking and deficiency is seen in the very early stage of tai yang bing.