Efficacy of Goshajinkigan in the Treatment of Sleep-Related Leg Cramps : a Study of Distinctive Patient Features from the Viewpoint of Kampo Medicine
10.3937/kampomed.65.100
- VernacularTitle:Sleep-Related Leg Crampに対する牛車腎気丸の有効性：有効症例の東洋医学的特徴についての検討
- Author:
Kazuyuki ISHIDA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Kampo Medicine
2014;65(2):100-107
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
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Abstract:
Sleep-related leg cramp (SRLC) is a sleep disorder characterized by disturbance of sleep because of painful leg cramps. In this report, we studied the efficacy of goshajinkigan (GJG) in the treatment of SRLC. From among the outpatients at our Kampo clinic, we selected SRLC patients who were treated with GJG and investigated their distinctive features. Seven patients (5 men and 2 women), with a mean age of 72.1 years met the inclusion criteria. In addition to SRLC, 4 patients experienced cramps following exercises such as walking, swimming, and mountain trekking ; further, one of these 4 patients complained of cramps even in the upper extremities. Among the 7 patients, 3 were successfully treated for SRLC by GJG. GJG was effective in patients who showed symptoms of the Kidney yang-ki deficiency without gastrointestinal dysfunction. On the other hand, GJG was not so effective in the patient without the Kidney yang-ki deficiency, the patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction, and the patient with cramps in the arms. In conclusion, our findings suggest that GJG is effective in the treatment of SRLC patients with the Kidney yang-ki deficiency without both gastrointestinal dysfunction and cramps in the upper extremities.
