We report a case of 87-year-old female with somatoform autonomic dysfunction whose complaint of oppression ranging from the left chest to the epigastrium was successfully treated with shimbuto, in whom neither antidepressants nor anxiolytic drugs had been effective. Since weak abdominal power, bilateral kyokyokuman and pulsation in the upper navel region were observed, saikokeishikankyoto was initiated, but satisfactory effect was not obtained. Thus, we re-estimated her conditions and judged as the stage of Shao yin based on symptoms such as bedridden tendency, coldness of the limbs and indigestible diarrhea, although a weak and surface pulse was noted. Shimbuto was then administered, and various symptoms including chest oppression were improved rapidly and dramatically. We speculated that her chest oppression might occur due to kiutsu (depression of ki) secondary to suitai (accumulation of sui) rather than kigyaku (regurgitation of ki), and that the improvement of suitai by shimbuto might result in the disappearance of kiutsu. Although shimbuto is not popularly used for the treatment of somatoform disorder having chest symptoms, our case suggests that there should be a certain case in which shimbuto is so effective. Also it is suggested that shimbuto might be applicable even when deep pulse or excessive strain of abdominal muscles is not necessarily observed.
Thorax ; symptoms <1> ; Social oppression ; Complaint, NOS ; Chest

The effects of a 50Hz magnetic field on experimentally-induced inflammation in rats were studied. Carrageenan edema was inhibited significantly by exposure to magnetic field for 3 hours. Adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats was also suppressed by the magnetic field.

It has been experienced that Kampo, with its philosophy that every disease is psychosomatic in origin and that herbs affect both the psyche and the soma, sometimes has a dramatic effect on somatoform disorders, though there has been no study examining the effects of Kampo on somatoform disorders. In this preliminary study, the morbidity of somatoform disorders among patients who visited the Keio Kampo Clinic and the patients' psychological well-being were examined.
One hundred patients (17 males and 83 females; mean age [±SD], 39±16) who sought Kampo treatment for the first time at Keio University Hospital participated in this study. A Japanese checklist derived from the somatoform disorders schedule (version 1.1) was used to check the somatoform symptoms. To assess psychological well-being, the subjective well-being inventory (SUBI) was performed. The subjects' clinical records were examined afterwards to rule out symptoms which could be medically explained.
Somatoform patients and medically ill (non-somatoform) patients were 65% and 26% of the total respectively. The somatoform patients showed significantly lower SUBI positive scores than the non-somatoform patients (p=0.042), while SUBI negative scores were significantly higher (p=0.001). Among the somatoform patients, there was a negative correlation between numbers of somatoform symptoms and SUBI positive scores (r=0.267; p=0.032), and a positive correlation between numbers of somatoform symptoms and SUBI negative scores (r=0.337; p=0.006).
Following the SUBI scores through treatment courses may lead to a better understanding of the pathology of somatoform disorders and to more effective use of Kampo.