Kampo Formula-Pattern Models: The Development of 13 New Clinically Useful Standard Abdominal Pattern Models in the Fukushin Simulator.

Aim: In Kampo medicine, there exists an important system of diagnosis called Fukushin, or abdominal diagnosis or palpation. By applying pressure to the abdomen of the patient, the physician can gain important information on the patient's physical state and use those indications to choose a suitable Kampo formulation. We have previously developed a Fukushin simulator, a teaching tool that reproduces the important abdominal patterns that doctors will encounter in clinical practice and that has received favourable feedback for students and practitioners. In order to make diagnosis and prescription easier, it is desirable to have matched formula-pattern pairings. The present study aims to develop such pairings. Methods: With the previously developed models as a foundation, in the present study the production team (two members) used materials such as urethane foam and silicone rubber to build an additional 13 standard abdominal pattern models matched to Kampo herbal formulas commonly used by practitioners in Japan. Subsequently, the evaluation team (the remaining 10 authors) investigated the viability of these models. Results: The evaluation team determined that abdominal pattern models matched to the following typical Kampo formulas were created successfully: Dai-saiko-To (), Dai-joki-To (), Shigyaku-San (), Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-To (), Keishi-bukuryo-Gan (), Hachimi-jio-Gan (), Hange-shashin-To (), Sho-saiko-To (), Hochu-ekki-To (), Sho-kenchu-To (), Toki-shakuyaku-San (), Ninjin-To (), and Dai-kenchu-To (). Conclusion: We suggest that these new formula-pattern models can make an important contribution to the standardization of abdominal diagnosis and prescription and to Kampo education.

Effects of goshuyuto on lateralization of pupillary dynamics in headache.

Autonomic nervous imbalance is implicated in chronic headache. We investigated the effects of goshuyuto-a representative Kampo medicine for headache-on the lateralization of the pupillary autonomic nervous system by using binocular infrared video pupillography. Patients with chronic headache were administered goshuyuto extract for 1 month (1st stage). Goshuyuto was discontinued for 1 month, following which the patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: placebo and goshuyuto. In the 2nd stage, the respective groups were administered placebo or goshuyuto for 3 months. The average laterality of the pupillary dynamics decreased significantly in the goshuyuto group. These results suggest that the reduction of the difference in pupillary autonomic balance between the left and right eyes might be one of the action mechanisms of goshuyuto to relieve chronic headache.

The efficacy of goshuyuto, a typical Kampo (Japanese herbal medicine) formula, in preventing episodes of headache.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of goshuyuto, a typical Kampo formula, in preventing episodes of headache in chronic headache patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Because the treatment target of a Kampo formula is decided on a basis different to that of Western medicine, we first selected patients belonging to a subgroup that responded to goshuyuto before conducting the usual randomized controlled trial. During stage 1, the subjects were instructed to orally consume goshuyuto for 4 weeks. Only those subjects judged as responders advanced to stage 2, during which a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted. The subjects consumed the same dose of goshuyuto or placebo for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 91 subjects enrolled in stage 1, 60 were judged as responders. Of these, 53 advanced to stage 2; 28 were assigned to the goshuyuto group and 25 to the placebo group. The decrease in the number of days on which headache episodes occurred was greater in the goshuyuto group than in the placebo group (2.6 +/- 3.7 vs. 0.3 +/- 4.0 days, p = 0.034); no difference was observed with regard to the reduction in the frequency of consuming reliever medications (2.2 +/- 4.0 vs. 1.4 +/- 8.2, p = 0.672). Improvement in the associated symptoms was observed in more than 50% of the subjects in the goshuyuto group. CONCLUSION: Goshuyuto is useful in preventing episodes of headache in chronic headache patients. Responder-limited design is a candidate for evaluating Kampo medicine.