Yokukansan (YKS), one of the traditional Japanese “Kampo” medicines, is a mixture of extract powders from seven kinds of medicinal herbs (Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma, Hoelen, Cnidii Rhizoma, Uncariae Uncis Cum Ramulus, Angelicae Radix, Bupleuri Radix, and Glycyrrhizae Radix). YKS has been administered to fragile habitus patients who show symptoms such as emotional irritability, neurosis and insomnia, and to infants who suffer from night crying and convulsions. In recent years, YKS has been reported to be effective against pain disorders such as headache and chronic pain, but the mechanism underlying these beneficial effects is still unclear. In this study, the effect of YKS on chronic inflammatory pain and stress caused by pain were investigated using rats with adjuvant arthritis.
Male Wistar rats were injected with complete Freund's adjuvant into the plantar surface of the right hindpaw, and then pain thresholds and stress markers were measured. The thermal pain threshold measured with the plantar test significantly decreased, and the level of salivary chromogranin A (CgA), which is used as a mental stress marker, was significantly increased in this model. The administration of YKS controlled the activation of spinal microglia involved in the expression of chronic pain, and significantly reduced a decrease in the pain threshold. Moreover, an increase in the level of salivary CgA was significantly inhibited. The authors concluded that YKS has effects in reducing chronic inflammatory pain and the stress caused by pain.

It has been reported that the effect of shoseiryuto, a traditional Japanese “Kampo” medicine, on allergic rhinitis depends on several mechanisms. Previously, we reported that shoseiryuto administered in an allergic rhinitis rat model, inhibited increases of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the nasal mucus, which in turn are involved in the exacerbation of rhinitis symptoms and allergic symptoms. In the present research, we looked into whether the secretion of SP and CGRP are directly inhibited by the administration of shoseiryuto.
Histamine solution 5µl (10 mg/ml) was instilled in both nostrils of healthy, male SD rats, thereby inducing allergic symptoms, and for the group to which shoseiryuto had been pre-administered, increase in the concentration of SP and CGRP in the nasal mucus was significantly inhibited. Moreover, upon investigating SP and CGRP production in the trigeminal ganglia by means of immunostaining, it was found to be similarly significantly inhibited. The above results indicate that shoseiryuto directly inhibits the secretion of SP and CGRP in the C-fibers of nasal mucosa.

Swelling and pain appear when blood flow is delayed in states of “oketsu.” Until now “oketsu” as a circulatory disturbance has been studied from profiles of vascular resistance characteristics and blood fluidity. Blood fluidity is influenced by blood cell function, plasma ingredients and reactive oxygen. In this study, we administered the various Chinese herbal medicines, tokishakuyakusan, saikokaryukotsuboreito, tokakujokito, keishibukuryogan and juzentaihoto to determine the effect of these medicines on “oketsu” by observing reactive oxygen dynamics and blood fluidity in rats.SPF male Wistar rats weighing 200 g were used. Each experimental group was given feed containing 3% extract of one Chinese herbal medicine for1week. Blood samples were mixed with heparin, EDTA-2K or sodium citrate to block coagulation. Blood fluidity was measured with a Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer (MC-FAN). A PA-20 examined platelet aggregation by the reaction to ADP, which activates platelet aggregation. Reactive oxygen dynamics were measured with a Free Radical Elective Evaluator (FREE).As a result, anti-oxidative ability and blood fluidity increased in all Chinese herbal medicine-administered groups. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between the fluidity of erythrocyte suspensions and anti-oxidative ability was shown. We speculate that an anti-oxidative influence of Chinese herbal medicines affected erythroid deformability or stickiness. In addition, tokishakuyakusan, tokakujokito and keishibukuryogan decreased platelet aggregation ability.This study shows that “oketsu” improves blood properties and suggests that Chinese herbal medicine improves decrease in blood fluidity, the causes of conditions such as thrombosis or embolism.

The Japan Society for Oriental Medicine, and The Korean Oriental Medical Society, organizations representing traditional medicine in both countries, concluded a convention of scientific exchange and held a formal signing ceremony on March 29, 2009. Taking this opportunity, the presidents of both societies gave commemorative lectures on behalf of their organizations.
1) Korean president Kim spoke of an original medical tradition differing from that in China, having existed before the time of Christ. He raised yomogi and garlic as examples of herbs not described in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. He told how traditional medicine exchange was already active between China, Korea and Japan, during China's Three Kingdoms period, and how after the Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine was published, traditional Korean medicine took root with the common people, and the concept of Four Constitution Medicine was created. Kim then spoke of how western medicine was introduced in 1876, and how a dual medical system has since developed in his country.
2) President Ishino told of how Kampo medicine originated from China, and how in particular, it was Japanized during the Edo period. He spoke of how its characteristic feature is a focus on “practice” rather than “theory”, which eliminates idealism, places more emphasis on positivism, and has led to the development of fukushin, or abdominal diagnosis. He explained the history of Kampo medicine in great detail, and spoke of how after the medical system was reformed in the Meiji era, Japanese medicine became western based. He then explained how after entering the Showa era, Kampo medicine was revived, and is now well-established and integrated with western medicine.

Kampo formulae are selected according to a patient's symptoms. In certain cases the decoctions are modified with additional herbs to provide a suitable treatment. Knowledge of herbs and formulae used clinically in Kampo medicine is essential; however there is a lack of knowledge on how extensively certain herbs are applied. We have analyzed our Kampo outpatient clinic prescriptions for September 2004. The 20 most frequently applied formulae accounted for 60% of all prescriptions. Also, we analyzed our patients' medical backgrounds in relation to the most frequently used 20 prescriptions in September 2004, and the distribution of our patients for each prescription. The distribution of patients for each prescription differed significantly from the distribution of all patients. As a last point, we looked at which herbs were most frequently added to prescriptions. The most frequently added herb was Astragali Radix, followed by Coicis Semen and Aconiti Tuber. We consider this to be significant information for Kampo physicians and pharmacists.
Medicine, Kampo ; seconds ; Distributing ; Clinic ; Analysis

The world has now rediscovered the value of traditional medicine. Much traditional medicine in South-East Asian countries originated from the medicines of ancient China, and developed independently within those individual countries. As a measure toward information exchange and communication among these countries, the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO) has published its International Standard Terminologies (IST) for use globally. While domestically in Japan, Kampo is now taught as a regular subject in all medical schools. In this light, there is significant meaning to holding conference with the purpose of understanding the current status of Japanese Kampo around the world, and considering the best ways to disseminate Kampo information globally. The International Conference of Kampo Medicine (provisional title) has been held thus far a total of three times, to address the current status of Japanese Kampo, Japanese Kampo issues from global point of view, as well as the current status of traditional medicine in China and Korea also originating from the ancient Chinese medicine. The conference was entitled &lsquoWhy Kampo? Why Now? Why Me?—The reason why foreign medical doctors worldwide choose Japanese Kampo, and the situation or development of Kampo medicine in their own countries”, in which foreign doctors in Japan, medical students, and leading Kampo medical practitioners were invited to give lectures, which were followed by free discussions by all participants.
Medicine, Kampo ; Medicine ; seconds ; Japanese language ; Conferences

We report 2 patients with Graves' disease and psychological disorders. In these patients, treatment did not relieve psychological disorders despite normalization of thyroid function, but kampo therapy was effective. Patient 1 was a 24-year-old female. In 2000, she was diagnosed as having Graves' disease. Treatment with an antithyroid drug normalized thyroid function, but did not relieve psychological disorders such as irritation, anxiety, or despair. In February 2005, the patient consulted our hospital. Patient 2 was a 26-year-old female. After graduating from a high school, she developed Graves' disease. Treatment with an antithyroid drug was started. However, thyroid function was unstable ; mild hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism repeatedly occurred. During this period, irritation, fatigue, malaise, and alopecia deteriorated, and she consulted our hospital in January 2005. In the two patients, keishikanzoryukotsuboreitogohangekobokuto was prescribed (the regimen was changed during follow-up in Patient 1), and their conditions markedly subsided after 16 and 9 weeks of administration, respectively, suggesting the usefulness of kampo therapy in the treatment of Graves' disease associated with psychological disorders.
Therapeutic procedure ; Graves' Disease ; seconds ; Patients ; Mental disorders

We encountered a patient with intractable panic disorder who responded extremely well to Ryukotsuto, a Kampo preparation. Beginning in March 2003, a 55-year-old female began to lose vigor and concentration, while developing palpitations and experiencing a rise in blood pressure (systolic pressure≥190mmHg) accompanied by sudden anxiety. When these symptoms became intense, she was brought to a hospital by ambulance. Although close examination revealed no abnormalities, on clinical diagnosis, however, autonomic imbalance was recognized. Despite treatment with antidepressants and minor tranquilizers, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), no improvement was observed. A series of medicinal Kampo preparations, prescribed one after another, also had no effect. For further treatment, she was referred to our hospital on July 22, 2005. At the first consultation, a diagnosis of panic disorder was made, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Hon-Ton disease was suspected based on clinical findings, and Ryokeikansoto was prescribed as a decoction. However, no positive effects were observed after 1 week, while marked incompetence, forgetfulness, and depression were noted. Therefore, based on the results of a self-rating depression scale (SDS), a profile of mood states (POMS), and autonomic function tests, such as pupillary dynamics at the first consultation, panic disorder accompanied by extreme tension with depression was diagnosed. Consequently, her Kampo preparation was changed to Ryukotsuto. As a result, symptoms virtually disappeared and all western drugs were discontinued. Psychological tests, autonomic function tests, and her diagnostic scores for conditions of Ki, Ketsu, and Sui also improved. We conclude that Ryukotsuto may be an effective treatment for panic disorder accompanied by depression.
Panic Disorder ; Cancer patients and suicide and depression ; Medicine, Kampo ; therapeutic aspects ; symptoms <1>

Medicine, Kampo ; Century ; Road ; Maps

For the dispensing of Kampo formulas, only an adult dose is described by conventional formulary. Therefore a child's dose is often prescribed by reducing instructions for the fraction-times of an adult dose. However, it is necessary to study whether the content of Kampo-extract pharmaceutical preparations at a child's dose, are similar to decoctions prepared by reducing the dose of crude drugs, and reducing the quantity of water by fraction-times. Therefore it was compared whether the constituents of a decoction liquid at an adult dose, were equal to those of a child's dose. In the decoction method of our clinic, adult doses are decocted with an initial 600mL quantity of water to half volume, as per the normal decoction method, whereas children's doses are reduced to 2/3 or 1/3 times that of adult dose, and decocted to half of the early-stage quantity of water that they are with adults. In the present study, three Kampo formulas which have been used frequently in our clinic and have different prescription weights i.e., Oren-gedoku-to (9g), Keishi-bukuryo-gan-ryo (20g), and Juzen-taiho-to (33g) were studied. When child and adult doses were compared, a difference was noted in pH, extraction rate and extracted constituents. Extraction rates for a child's dose of Oren-gedoku-to and Juzen-taiho-to were lower than that of an adult dose. Extraction rates of component gradients? ferulic acid in Oren-gedoku-to, pae-oniflorin in Keishi-bukuryo-gan-ryo, and paeoniflorin and liquiritin in Juzen-taiho-to? for a child's dose were lower than those of an adult dose. However, extraction rates of component gradients? albiflorin in Keishi-bukuryo-gan-ryo and albiflorin and trans-cinnamic acid in Juzen-taiho-to ? for a child's dose (quantity of 1/3 times) were higher than those of an adult dose. These results suggest that the content of a decoction, which was prepared by reducing an adult dose to the fraction-time of a child's dose, is not the same as reducing the amount of Kampo-extract pharmaceutical preparation to the fraction-time of a child's dose.