Two patients with spondylosis deformans and three patients with psychosomatic disease were treated by partial bathing with artificial spring of sodium sulfate. Fifteen minutes a day of bathing in artificial spring water prepared by dissolving 1000mg of sodium sulfate into 1 liter of 38°C-tap water was continued for one month.
Based on the findings on thermography, temperature changes were classified into four types. Correlation was found in three types as follows: p<0.01 in the crossing type, p<0.01 in the converging type, p<0.001 and p<0.05 in the ascending type. No correlation was found in the diffusing type. Plethysmography revealed a significant difference in the converging type and also a difference of p<0.01 in the diffusing type. MCV disclosed a slower change in temperature on the affected side than on the normal side. Blood gas analysis revealed a slight increase in PO₂, SATO₂ after one month of bathing. Subjective symptoms were improved from point 9 to point 3 to 4 on the VAS scale. Numbness changed from the trembling stage to the slightly smarting sensation stage. Psychroesthesia disappeared from all patients.
A combination of nerve block therapy and warm bath cure with sodium sulfate brought good therapeutic results in patients with chronic pain including psychosomatic disease.

Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients frequently have zinc deficiency. IBD patients with zinc deficiency have higher risks of IBD-related hospitalization, complications, and requiring surgery. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of zinc acetate hydrate (ZAH; Nobelzin) in IBD patients with zinc deficiency. Methods: IBD patients with zinc deficiency who received ZAH from March 2017 to April 2020 were registered in this two-center, retrospective, observational study. Changes in serum zinc levels and disease activity (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [CDAI]) before and after ZAH administration were analyzed. Results: Fifty-one patients with Crohn’s disease (CD, n = 40) or ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 11) were registered. Median serum zinc level and median CDAI scores significantly improved (55.5–91.0 μg/dL, P< 0.001; 171.5–129, P< 0.001, respectively) in CD patients 4 weeks after starting ZAH administration. Similarly, median serum zinc levels and CDAI scores significantly improved (57.0–81.0 μg/dL, P< 0.001; 177–148, P= 0.012, respectively) 20 weeks after starting ZAH administration. Similar investigations were conducted in groups where no treatment change, other than ZAH administration, was implemented; significant improvements were observed in both serum zinc level and CDAI scores. Median serum zinc levels in UC patients 4 weeks after starting ZAH administration significantly improved from 63.0 to 94.0 μg/dL (P= 0.002), but no significant changes in disease activity were observed. One patient experienced side effects of abdominal discomfort and nausea. Conclusions ZAH administration is effective in improving zinc deficiency and may contribute to improving disease activity in IBD.