This paper reports the results of clinical research on spring pollen disease based upon the Oriental medical diagnoses. Sixty-nine patients (twenty-four males and forty-five females) who were afflicted with the spring pollen disease were categorized into groups according to the types of Oriental herbal medicine that they responded to. Then, the authors compared the respective periods when the disease first developed in the patients of each group. A comparison was also made based on the differences between their objective signs and subjective symptoms.
As a result of the research, the types of spring pollen disease observed have been classified into the following three groups, with one exceptional type (see Example 4). The first is a group for which “a treatment for superficies-syndrome” (Kai-hyo) was effective using “the drugs of acrid taste and warm nature” (Shin-on) (see Example 23). The patients of this type first manifested their symptoms in the period between the end of January and mid-February. It was found that most of them exhibited a predisposition to a “hypofunctioning condition” (Kyo-sho), and were diagnosed as having pollen disease with the “wind-cold symptom” (Fu-kan-sho). The second is a group for which “a treatment for superficies-syndrome” was effective using “acrid and coldnatured drugs” (Sin-ryo) (see Example 22). Most of the patients of this type first manifested their symptoms after mid-February. It was found that they exhibited the symptom of “cold in the superficies” (Gai-kan) and “the pathogenic factor blending wind-evil and heat-evil” (Fu-netsu), and that most of them manifested “a hyper-functioning condition” (Jitsu-sho). They were diagnosed as having pollen disease with the “wind-warm symptom” (Fu-on-sho) of a “warm disease” (On-byo) with a strong “wind-evil” (Fu-ja) and weak “warm-evil” (On-ja). The third is a group with the mixture of “the treatment for superficies-syndrome” with “the drugs of acrid taste and warm nature” and those of “acrid and cold nature” (see Example 20). It was found that the patients of this group carried little predisposition to “a hypofunctioning condition, ” and that they exhibited a mixed condition of coldness and heat, carrying both characteristics of the first and second groups. They were diagnosed as having the pollen disease with “auxiliary symptoms” (Ken-sho), “the wind-warm symptom” of “a warm disease” combined with “cold-evil” (Kan ja).

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.