We herein report a case of a 19-year-old male patient who presented with traumatic alopecia and was successfully treated with Kampo formulation saikoseikanto (Ikkando). This patient was referred to the Kampo outpatient department of Hoshi General Hospital from a neurosurgery hospital located near his workplace. The reason for the consultation was alopecia with subcutaneous hemorrhage that appeared several days after a blow to his parietal region. The patient presented with kyokyokuman on the right side along with chronic pharyngitis. We suspected that the alopecia was caused by folliculitis, so we prescribed saikoseikanto. The results of this medication were dramatic ; his alopecia and pharyngeal inflammation resolved within three months. His depressive mental state and his irritability improved significantly. We recognized that this Kampo formulation controlled both physical and mental disorders.

We herein report a case of a 72-year-old man who complained of recurrent hyperalgesia in the right big toe, which was successfully treated with the Kampo formulation ninjin’yoeito. The unusual pain felt like being cut with a utility knife whenever his skin was lightly scraped with a toothpick. There was mild tactile loss at this area, however, there were no other sensory disturbances in the sense of pain, cold, or vibration. This patient’s hobby was Iaido, a type of Kendo, which places stress on the soles of the feet. Therefore, we speculated that the clinical disorder in this case was related to his exercise. This patient exhibited a pattern of qi and blood deficiency with qi uprising, which suggested the use of ninjin’yoeito. After taking this Kampo formulation, his abnormal hyperalgesia with coldness in the big toe resolved. There have been no prior reports of ninjin’yoeito effectively treating unusual hyperalgesia.

We herein report the case of a 68-year-old female patient whose branch-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) regressed during thirteen years of Kampo treatment. The Kampo treatment was not aimed at treating IPMN but rather at addressing her complex complaints, such as menopausal disorders, chronic headaches and abdominal pain. During this period, her IPMN was monitored by MRCP every year without any medication or surgical intervention. The regression of IPMN is extremely rare. Therefore, we report this case by presenting the course of MRCP images along with an overview of Kampo treatment over these thirteen years.

We herein report a patient who complained persistent exudate at navel in spite of adequate antibiotics therapy after laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully treated with Kampo therapy. The pharmacological effect of this Kampo formulation i.e. senkinnaitakusan is still unknown, but this formulation has been used for persistent infectious diseases. According to the description in the classic textbook, this formulation is suggested to encourage metabolic function and exhibit anti-inflammatory function. There have been no reports of Kampo therapy for the superficial incisional site infection associated with laparoscopic surgery. The authors propose that Kampo medicine is another promising option in the management of surgical site infection (SSI).

We herein report three patients who complained atypical febrile diseases associated with painful whole body (Case 1), general fatigue (Case 2), and a sense of general discomfort (Case 3). All cases were not accompanied by dizziness and a shaky feeling which are commonly associated in shimbuto-sho i.e. indication of shimbuto, but presented severe tenderness at the left paraumbilical region which was suggested as indicative point of shimbuto by Yoshiko Takagi. We made a diagnosis in these three cases as shimbuto-sho based on the Takagi's tender point. Through these clinical experiences we propose that a new type of shimbuto-sho, which are completely different from the fixed idea of inherited knowledge. This new type of shimbuto-sho consists of following signs ; fever with chill, floating and feeble pulse, no sweating, general fatigue or body pain, and severe pain at Takagi's tender point.

We herein report a 36-year-old male patient, who complained of persistent and recurrent nausea with vomiting for 16 years in spite of various standard treatments, was successfully treated with Kampo formulation Shimbuto, which selected based on the left para-navel tender point. We speculated that the clinical disorder in this case was related to suitai i.e. water imbalance syndrome in Kampo medicine. However, there has never been such a case report in the field of Kampo, and no related papers have been found in the standard database Medline. We believe this report is valuable from the viewpoint of therapeutics in both Western and Kampo medicine.

Abdominal distension is one of the common symptoms and can cause abdominal pain and anorexia, which may raise adverse effect on general well-being and quality of life. In Western medicine, there are specialized treatments for structural lesions associated with abdominal distension, but functional abdominal distension is often difficult to treat. There have been some reports of Kampo medicine for treatment of abdominal distension, but no case reports on tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto. We experienced two cases of abdominal distension successfully treated with tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto. Case 1 was 86-year-old woman who developed abdominal distension with frequent belching. Case 2 was 59-year-old man who developed abdominal distension associated with opioid. Regulating qi medicine was not effective for abdominal distension in both cases. Both cases had reversal coldness of the extremities, tympanic sounds of abdomen, coldness of abdomen, and inguinal tenderness and resistance. Therefore, we diagnosed them as tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto sho. After administration of tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto, in Case 1, the frequency of belching decreased and the appetite increased with the improvement of abdominal distension. In Case 2, increasing the dose of goshuyu in tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto relieved abdominal distension. Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto can be effective for abdominal distension with interior cold pattern.

The authors experienced two cases of trigeminal neuralgia successfully treated by a Kampo formulation tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto (TSG). Case 1 is 70-year-old woman who complained of severe pain on the right side of her face. She was administered carbamazepine. It was effective for the facial pain but she could not take it continuously because of side effect, namely ataxia. Therefore, we tried to administer TSG. This Kampo formulation proved effective, and her pain was controlled without carbamazepine. Case 2 is 69-year-old woman who complained of localized pain on the right side of her face. In this case TSG alone was effective.

Although saikanto has often been used for infectious pleuritis, there are few reports on the usefulness of it in recent years. We experienced a patient successfully treated with saikanto, who was suffering from bacterial pleuritis with residual pleural effusion, which was difficult to drain and treat with antibacterial drugs. Kampo treatment including saikanto should be used for pleuritis that is not sufficiently improved by Western medical treatment alone.

Persistent or intractable hiccups worsen the activity of daily life and the quality of life of patients, but are sometimes difficult to treat. There are no recommended therapies in Western medicine for hiccups, and Kampo medicine can often be used. However, there have been no case reports on keishininjinto for hiccups. We experienced two cases of hiccups successfully treated with keishininjinto. Case 1 was a 68-year-old man who continued intractable hiccups for 3 years. Case 2 was an 81-year-old man who developed persistent hiccups during mechanical ventilation. Both cases had spontaneous sweat, tendency of diarrhea, epigastric discomfort and resistance, and cold of epigastrium, so we diagnosed them as keishininjinto-sho. It took 6 months to improve hiccups after administration of keishininjinto in case 1 and 1 week in case 2. Keishininjinto can be effective for hiccups with interior and cold pattern.