Zen Nippon Shinkyu Gakkai Zasshi(Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion:JJSAM).
2010; 60(2): 244-251. Received 19 Mar, 2009 Accepted 27 Mar, 2010

To investigate the effects of Kampo and a rehabilitation approach on patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), a 65-year-old female patient with SCD was treated with Ogi-kenchu-to and therapeutic exercise based on the Bobath concept.
She had a gait disturbance (unable to walk) with slightly increased muscle tonus and deep sensory disturbance in the left leg before therapy. In Kampo confirmations, there was a generalized cold feeling and fatigue due to decreased physical fitness. In the electrophysiological study, the amplitude of Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEP) in the left side showed a greater decrease than those in the right side. The amplitude of the F-wave in the left side showed a greater increase than that of the right side.
After two months of this therapy, the patient was able to walk unassisted. Improvement in the neurological and general findings, along with normalization of the ABR, SEP and F-wave were also observed.
It was suggested that Kampo therapy using Ogi-kenchu-to and therapeutic exercise based on the Bobath concept were effective in the treatment of this patient with SCD.

A study was made of the suitability of acupuncture for neuropathies. The present case of polyneuropathy showed decreased vibratory sense as well as other disturbed sensory functions which were not improved by medication. The Kampo diagnosis of this case was determined to be deficient qi and blood, and deficient qi with stagnated blood. The treatment indicated by this diagnosis was harmonizing the qi and blood, and unblocking the meridians. Such disorders with other complaints were improved by acupuncture and medication.
The case study presented here indicated how acupuncture could be used for certain neuropathies.

Objective: We examined the effects of ontokyu (warm tube moxibustion) medical treatment of GB33 and SP6 on young women with a chilly constitution (‘Hie’ symptoms). Methods: The subjects were 13 female university students (mean age: 20.7± 1.3years). They were assigned to either a GB33 group or an SP6 group in consideration of height for the determinate method by the discriminant analysis of Sakaguchi et al. After a one-week pre-observation period, 1 or 2 ontokyu treatments (Choan NEO, Yamasho) twice a week for four weeks were conducted. The follow-up period was two weeks. Effects of the therapy were evaluated using an original questionnaire (‘Hie’ diary), which consisted of six categorical scales of 14 symptoms and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of the severity of ‘Hie’. Results: Three subjects dropped out before 1st week therapy among the 13 subjects, so the number of subjects in both groups became five. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of age, height, weight, BMI, VAS, and total score for 14 symptoms at the baseline. There was no interaction between the groups for VAS or total score for the 14 symptoms. For both groups, no significant changes could be found in VAS during the intervention period and follow-up period compared with that during the pre-observation period. Although the total score for the 14 symptoms in both groups decreased gradually from the start of intervention for the GB33 group, it significantly decreased in after the 3rd and 4th weeks therapy compared with that in the pre-observation period. For the SP6 group, it significantly decreased in after the 4th week therapy and the 2nd week after finished therapy. For each item of the 14 symptoms, the GB33 group showed significant differences in stiff neck and shoulders and feeling thirsty when their scores between the pre-observation period and the intervention period were compared. In addition, the SP6 group showed a significant difference in stiff neck and shoulders, feeling thirsty, and nervousness when their scores between the pre-observation period and the intervention period were compared. Specifically, stiff neck and shoulders for the GB33 group was significantly reduced in the 1st and 2nd weeks after finished therapy, and feeling thirsty showed significant reduction in after the 3rd and 4th weeks therapy. On the other hand, for the SP6 group, stiff neck and shoulders significantly decreased in after the 2nd and 4th weeks therapy and the 1st and 2nd after finished therapy, as did feeling thirsty in the 4th week therapy and in the 2nd week after finished therapy, as well as becoming nervous in after the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks therapy. Conclusion: It was suggested that ontokyu medical treatment to GB33 and SP6 for young women with a chilly constitution did not appear to exacerbate the severity of ‘Hie’ after reductions in air temperature, while improving the total score for 14 symptoms similarly.