Observations on the Efficacy of White Mustard Seed Moxibustion on Four Flower Points for Night Sweat / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of white mustard seed moxibustion on four flower points [bilateral points Geshu(BL 17) and Danshu(BL 19)] in treating night sweat.Method One hundred and twenty patients with night sweat were randomly allocated to groups A, B and C, 40 cases each. Group A received white mustard seed moxibustion on four flower points; group B, oral administration of zuogui pills; group C, application of millet paste to four flower points. After 22 days of treatment, pre-treatment and post-treatment TCM symptoms and signs of hyperhidrosis scores were compared in the three groups and the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the three groups.ResultThere was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the TCM symptoms and signs of hyperhidrosis score in the three groups (P<0.05). The cure rate and the total efficacy rate were 50.0% and 92.5%, respectively, in group A; 27.5% and 75.0%, respectively, in group B; 12.5% and 50.0%, respectively, in group C. There were statistically significant differences in the cure rate and the total efficacy rate, and the TCM symptoms and signs of hyperhidrosis score between group A and group B or C (P<0.05) and between groups B and C (P<0.05).Conclusion White mustard seed moxibustion on four flower points is an effective way to treat night sweat and can markedly improve its symptoms in the patients.

The Historical Development of Theories on Night Sweat Pathophysiology / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Until the Sui Dynasty in China, night sweat and spontaneous perspiration had been thought to be caused by same pathophysiology, that is, lowered superficial resistance by deficiency of Qi.In the Tang Dynasty, these were considered to have different pathophysiologies and a new principle indicated that pathogenic heat caused night sweat.In the Song and Jing Dynasties, deficiency of blood and pathogenic heat by deficiency of Yin was also considered to cause night sweat.In the Jing Dynasty, exogenous pathogens, such as Cold were considered to cause night sweat, which indicated the principle that not only the deficiency syndrome but also the excess syndrome caused night sweat.In the beginning of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, it was concluded that the deficiency of Yin caused night sweat and the deficiency of Yang caused spontaneous perspiration.In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, another new theory indicated that deficiency of Yang also possibly caused night sweat; therefore we should diagnose abnormal sweat depending on the pathophysiology in each case.In the Qing Dynasty, new theories were established stating that not only exogenous pathogens but also Damp-heat, undigested food and stagnation of blood, all of which are included in excess syndrome, cause night sweat, and that based on which part of the body sweats occurred we might understand pathophysiology of night sweat. The night sweat by Warm-heat, which is different from the one by Wind-cold, was considered to be caused with deficiency of Yin.Thus we conclude that the theories of night sweat developed over time, based on Chinese medical classics.

The traditional oriental medical Analysis of the Oketsu-night sweat / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Oketsu-night sweat was first mentioned in the “Yi lin gai cuo” by Wang Qing ren and the “Xue zheng lun” by? Tang Rong chuan, but there are few explanations of its disease condition. Thus we made pathological studies in Oriental medicine based on three cases (women), where Oketsu-sho was alleviated with Keppu-chikuo-to modification, and Teitou-gan and Tokaku-joki-to (Tao he cheng qi tang) modification. Common disease conditions were Netsu-sho or heat syndrome (summer incidences, redness, flushing during night sweat), and lower Oketsu symptoms (lower abdominal distention, distention and cramping of the lower abdomen, and increased urinary frequency). The theory of these disease conditions is as follows: During sleep, Wei-energy enters the blood. Because of this, Wei-energy of the body surface becomes asthenia making it easier to break out in sweat. The Wei-energy in the blood is depressed by Oketsu, and heat of Oketsu becomes stronger during the night. This fever heats and evaporates bodily fluids, and as a result fluids are pushed outward and cause night sweat. Therefore heat syndrome appears to be a pre-condition of Oketsu-night sweat. If the lower aspect of the body is taken to mean the liver, one would hypothesize that Oketsu-night sweat is more likely to emerge because blood accumulates in the lower area because it returns to the liver at night. Thus, it is thought to be necessary to consider Oketsu as one of the causes of night sweat.