1.The Effect of Saffron in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases
Junsuke ARIMITSU ; Keisuke HAGIHARA ; Shizue OTSUKA ; Miho NAKANISHI ; Yuki KISHIDA ; Takaya INOUE ; Yukiko KATO ; Yasushi OTANI ; Kazunari OZAKI ; Kentaro SHIMIZU ; Mitsuru KAGEYAMA ; Shinji NISHIDA
Kampo Medicine 2011;62(4):548-555
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is classified as a beneficial herb in the treatment of “Oketsu,” eliminating blood stagnation. The clinical symptoms of “Oketsu” include feeling cold and arthralgia. The pathological condition of “Oketsu” is considered to be increased blood viscosity and microvascular disorders.However, no useful biomarker has been reported for evaluation of the degree of “Oketsu.” Here, we investigated the clinical effect of saffron on the symptoms of “Oketsu” in patients with autoimmune diseases. At the same time, we measured the plasma levels of platelet factor 4 (PF-4) and beta-thromboglobulin (β-TG) as platelet activation markers. Seventy-one patients (66 women and 5 men, mean age 52.3 ± 16.1) were studied. They were administered saffron (300mg∼900mg) with traditional Kampo medicine. The clinical symptoms of “Oketsu” improved (80.9%, n=38/47) and we measured PF-4 and β-TG in pre-and post-saffron treatment periods. The plasma levels of PF-4 and β-TG significantly decreased after saffron therapy (PF-4 : before 49.6 ± 29.8, after 24.0 ± 19.6ng/ml, β-TG : before 117.5 ± 64.0, after 64.6 ± 47.1ng/ml;paired t-test, p < 0.0001, respectively). These results suggest that saffron is effective in treatment of the symptoms of “Oketsu” in allergy and collagen disease patients. Moreover, PF-4 and β-TG may be useful biomarkers of the degree of “Oketsu.”
2.The Weights in Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (Dun Huang Version) and the Volume of a Fang Cun Bi (One Cun Square Spoon) : Weights and Measures in the Period when the Shan Han Lun was Written
Tsukasa FUEKI ; Takanori MATSUOKA ; Toshiaki MAKINO ; Takao NAMIKI ; Masashi BEPPU ; Hidetoshi YAMAGUCHI ; Hideyuki NAKATA ; Kenshu RAI ; Keisuke HAGIHARA ; Koichiro TANAKA ; Kazuhiko NAGASAKA ; Takao SUNAGA ; I-JUNG LEE ; Kenkichi OKADA ; Yusen IWAI ; Kazuhiro MAKIZUMI
Kampo Medicine 2014;65(1):38-45
For the purpose of investigating weights in the era when the Shan Han Lun was set forth, the weight and measures described in the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu, written in the period slightly after the Shan Han Lun, were studied. Some descriptions of the metrological standards are confusing in the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu. We focused on the measuring container, whose volume is equal to that of the one cun square spoon (fang cun bi), shown in the dun huang version of the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu. The volume of this measuring container was calculated on the assumption that the measures in this text follow those of the Han Shu Li Li Shi, and a result of 5.07 cm3 was obtained. The result was confirmed by using the actual measured values of the crude drugs. The result was also considered to support measurements of the volume in the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu as following the Han Shu Li Li Shi. With those results, descriptions of the density of honey and lard were examined, and the weight in the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu was clarified to follow that in the Han Shu Li Li Shi.
3.The Investigation of Metrological Standard in “Songban Shanghanlun” :Focus on the Absorbed Liquid in the Decoction Residues and the Extraction Efficiency of Ephedra-alkal
Tsukasa FUEKI ; Takanori MATSUOKA ; Toshiaki MAKINO ; Takao NAMIKI ; Masashi BEPPU ; Hidetoshi YAMAGUCHI ; Hideyuki NAKATA ; Kenshu RAI ; Keisuke HAGIHARA ; Koichiro TANAKA ; Takao SUNAGA ; Kazuhiko NAGASAKA ; Kenkichi OKADA ; Yusen IWAI ; Kazuhiro MAKIZUMI
Kampo Medicine 2014;65(2):61-72
The dosage of crude drugs described in the Shanghanlun has long been discussed, and a conversion ratio for 1 liang in the Songban Shanghanlun into modern grams has not been established yet. Ekisai Kariya, a bibliologist in Edo period Japan, claimed that the formulas in the Songban Shanghanlun could not be decocted when weighed with the “Han shu (lu li zhi)” scale (1 liang = 14 g, “regular scale”), and the weight scale in the text should be “Scale of Shen nong” (1/10 scale of the regular scale). This claim leads to the standards for Kampo prescription dosages. We inspected this matter by focusing on the amount of liquid absorbed by decoction residues, and demonstrated that the formulas in Songban Shanghanlun could actually be decocted when weighed with the “regular scale”. In addition, we calculated the quantities of Ephedra-alkaloids in the one-time dose of “Ma huang tang” of the several books written in the Song period, and the Songban Shanghanlun text, with results showing that Chinese doctors in the Song period recognized 1 liang in the Songban Shanghanlun as 14 grams in modern terms, and that the “regular scale” could be applied clinically. This strongly suggests that the metrological standard in the Songban Shanghanlun should be the “regular scale”.
4.A Combination of Kamishoyosan and Hochuekkito was Affective to Improve Negative Symptoms of a Patient with Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type
Miho NAKANISHI ; Yuki KISHIDA ; Shinji TAGAMI ; Kousuke BABA ; Keisuke HAGIHARA
Kampo Medicine 2017;68(4):352-357
We experienced a case of paranoid schizophrenia whose negative symptoms such as fatigue and depression were successfully treated with kamishoyosan and hochuekkito. The combination of medical herbal extracts did not affect positive symptoms. Herbal medicine may play not only a supporting role in treating mental disorders in general but also an important role in improving negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
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