Background : Menstrual migraine is more resistant to treatment than that of nonmenstrual episodes. Hormonal progesterone changes may cause sui (water/fluid) disturbance, in Kampo medicine terms. We therefore treated patients with menstrual migraine in which goshuyuto was ineffective, with the combination of goreisan and goshuyuto.
Subjects & Methods : Subjects were 37 female patients with coldness (mean age 37 years, age range 23-48 years), whose migraine during their intra-menstrual periods was successfully treated with goshuyuto for 3 months. In order to treat migraine in the menstrual period, goreisan was added to goshuyuto from 1 week before onset, until the end of their menstrual period. Results : Among 37 patients, the treatment was effective in 26 patients (70%). Significant variables were found to be dull headache (p = 0.003), edema (p = 0.006), vertigo (p = 0.014) and oliguria (p = 0.014) during attacks, as well as worsening before rain (p = 0.004). Conclusion : The periodical combination of goreisan and goshuyuto seems to be effective in patients with menstrual migraine who report symptoms of sui disturbance, such as dull headache and oliguria during their attacks.