Medicine, Kampo ; Pulmonary evaluation ; Therapeutic procedure ; Geriatrics

Medicine, Kampo ; Recent ; Therapeutic procedure

In order to evaluate the “Sho” (Kampo diagnosis) objectively, the authors attempted to quantify patients in a hypertension patient group by means of the quantification III method.
The first axis of symptom values expressed Deficient/Excessive tendency. On scattergrams comprised of the first-second, first-third, and second-third axes, it was found that the symptoms were separated in some groups according to differences in their “patterns of appearance.” Furthermore, the group of symptoms nearly corresponded to the Oriental medicial concepts of Kan-utsu (Stagnation of the Liver), Kikyo (Qi deficiency) and Jinkyo (Kidney Deficiency).
These results suggest that we can use the quantificatiom III method to objectively evaluate the “Sho” and distinguish the appearance patterns of symptoms.

Europe has a long history with its own traditional medicines. In Germany, the practice of traditional European and Asian medicine along with modern medicine is called Integrative Medicine. The pain clinics at Munich University, TCM Klinik Bad Kotzting, Immanuel Klankenhaus and Zen Haus Klinik are well-known centers of Integrative Medicine in Germany. We visited these hospitals and clinics and report on the state of their treatment.
Four-week programs in chronic pain, traditional Chinese medicine, natural therapy, and traditional Japanese medicine with aromatherapy are given at these facilities. Moreover, Complementary and Alternative medicines are widely covered by public or private insurance. And one reason for the spread of Integrative Medicine may be these social conditions, in addition to historical background.

The Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster that occurred on March 11, 2011 seriously destroyed Japanese social activities the medical system included. We provided medical support to the damaged area, and mainly performed Oriental medicine. Traditional methods using physical diagnoses and the treatments with herbs, acupuncture, and massage were effective, where any infrastructure had suffered or any modern medical facilities had been destroyed. Acute phase infectious disease, common colds, and hypothermia were dominant. Allergies increased two weeks later, and there was much mental distress, and chronic pain symptoms one month later. We prescribed Kampo herbal medicines for common colds, hypothermia, allergies, and mental distress. Moreover, we also performed acupuncture and kneaded patients' body to reduce pain, stiffness, and edema. These treatments were effective for both physical and mental distress. Thus we believe that Oriental medicine is valuable in disaster situations.