We report a case of pneumothorax successfully treated with hochuekkito.
The patient was a 56-year-old female, who was diagnosed with right-sided pneumothorax, and who improved after resting cure. However, her condition did not completely resolve. About three years later, we prescribed hochuekkito because her pneumothorax became worse with general fatigue. Five days after taking hochuekkito, the pneumothorax improved in her chest X-ray. But it became worse again, and finally she underwent an endoscopic operation. This case suggests the possibility that hochuekkito can improve pneumothorax temporally. There is no literature on Kampo therapy as it applies to pneumothorax, and we believe this case to be the first report of value on the subject.

We examined the complaints of adult patients with ‘weak’ sho symptoms using their first-visit medical questionnaires. Our subjects were 39 patients (3 males and 36 females) who fatigued easily, and who had a weak constitution with stress and the changing of seasons.
Over 60% of these ‘weak’ patients complained of excessive sensitivity to cold. The majority had stiff shoulders, a stiff neck, low back pain, sleeplessness, headache, fatigue of the eyes and vertigo. Their gastrointestinal constitutions were poor because of over eating.
Although we understood many of the complains these ‘weak’ patients had through their medical questionnaires, their chief complaints were various. We hope these results are useful in understanding treatments for patients with ‘weak’ sho.

We examined the complaints of adult patients with ‘weak’ sho symptoms using their first-visit medical questionnaires. Our subjects were 39 patients (3 males and 36 females) who fatigued easily, and who had a weak constitution with stress and the changing of seasons.Over 60% of these ‘weak’ patients complained of excessive sensitivity to cold. The majority had stiff shoulders, a stiff neck, low back pain, sleeplessness, headache, fatigue of the eyes and vertigo. Their gastrointestinal constitutions were poor because of over eating.Although we understood many of the complains these ‘weak’ patients had through their medical questionnaires, their chief complaints were various. We hope these results are useful in understanding treatments for patients with ‘weak’ sho.
seconds ; Weak ; Complaint, NOS ; Sleeplessness ; Financially poor

Rikkunshito is known as a drug used for recovery from epigastric distress and loss of appetite. However, here we report four patients with symptoms involving non-gastrointestinal disorders successfully treated with rikkunshito. In Case 1 there was a complaint of erythema around the right eye, in Case 2 of hot flushes, in Case 3 of gonarthrosis, and in Case 4 of urticaria. After taking rikkunshito, these symptoms improved. The four cases were instances of hikyo, because in Cases 1, 3, 4 their disorders of the stomach were so severe that they couldn't take shishihakuhito, boiogito, jumihaidokuto and inchingoreisan, and in Case 2 there was poor appetite in summer. Thus we believe it is important to improve gastrointestinal symptoms with rikkunshito when various hikyo disorders arise.

We reported that a patient with ascites arising from liver cirrhosis was successfully treated with Dai-kentyu-to. The case was a 67-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having C-type chronic hepatitis. After the operation of gastric cancer, ascites appeared. She was treated by diureatics, but ascites increased. When she was operated on for an abdominal hernia, the liver was cirrhotic. She lost appetite and was fatigued. She visited our clinic to undergo Kampo therapy. Hochu-ekki-to, Gorei-san, Sho-kenchu-to were given for her symptoms, but had no effects. However, since she began taking Dai-kenchu-to for her cold and rumbling abdomen, her ascites decreased gradually, and diuretics were stopped.

Medical education in Japan has centered upon Western medicine since the Meiji Era. Nevertheless, because patients have a great interest in Oriental medicine, many physicians have treated patients with traditional Chinese medicine. The Oriental Medicine Research Institute of Tokyo Women's Medical University opened in 1992, when education in Oriental medicine became a part of the curriculum. To understand the status of education in Oriental medicine in Japan, we conducted a questionnaire survey of all medical schools in the nation. With a response rate of 97.5%, the survey found that one university in four teaches Oriental medicine.
Since 1990, recognition of “alternative medicine, ” in contrast to “modern medicine, ” has gradually increased in both research and education around the world. In Germany, which was the model for the introduction of western medicine to Japan, the use of traditional herbs and spa treatment is already taught in medical school. In the United States, where the National Institutes of Health have established an alternative treatment clinic, research and education are already ongoing at many medical schools.
In such a global situation, the need for education in traditional Oriental medicine will increase, and systematizing such education may become a great challenge. We expect that Oriental medicine will one day be taught at all medical schools in Japan and will become part of the state medical examination.