Two Cases with Restless Legs Syndrome Successfully Treated with Kampo Medicine / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

We report two cases with honton disease, also regarded as restless legs syndrome (RLS), successfully treated with a combination of goshuyuto and ryokeijutsukanto. Case 1 was an 88-year-old woman who started experiencing RLS after she received cardiac bypass graft when she was 76-years-old. Abdominal examination revealed stuck sensation in the pit of her stomach and aortic palpitation around the upper umbilical region. From these examination results as well as the deficiency pattern, cold pattern, qi deficiency, and qi stagnation, we diagnosed the case as a hontonto (Zhouhou fang) indication. A combination therapy of goshuyuto and ryokeijutsukanto was administered. Consequently, the stuck sensation and RLS disappeared. Meanwhile, Case 2 was a 62-year-old woman who experienced RLS upon going to bed after she underwent breast cancer surgery at the age of 54 years. Similarly, abdominal examination revealed stuck sensation in the pit of her stomach, aortic palpitation around the upper umbilical region, and lower abdominal numbness. These examination results as well as the slight deficiency pattern, upper heat and lower cold pattern, qi deficiency, and qi stagnation indicated hontonto (Zhouhou fang). The same combination therapy was given. Eventually, the stuck sensation disappeared, and the RLS was reduced. Therefore, for RLS that appears after a mental load with invasive therapy, the combination therapy of goshuyuto and ryokeijutsukanto may be an effective treatment choice.