RESUMO
In this article, we focus on Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicine for the 1889 “Russian flu (Osome cold)”. The influenza pandemic arrived in Japan in 1890 (Meiji 23), and returned in waves over the next several years. The Kampo medicine at that time is described in “Ryukokanbo Setsu (Influenza Editorial)” by Sohaku Asada and “Tenkojikikanbo Zeisetsu (Epidemic Disorder Editorial)” by Masaharu Okada, in “Wakan Irin Shinshi (New Journal of Japanese-Chinese traditional medicine)”. There are prescriptions in “Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases)” for both daiseiryuto and keishinieppito, as well as for formulas of Gosei School, such as gekito, saikogedokuto, shoyosankato, kyushikososan, wageto, jusshinto and kososan. As candidates to cause this pandemic, both the novel influenzavirus-H3 and the novel coronavirus-OC43 are considered. In contrast to Western medicine, which must deal with each virus, Kampo medicine was as effective for the Russian flu, as it was for the Spanish flu.
RESUMO
In response to the increasing numbers of patients with long-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we started using Kampo (traditional Japanese) medicine for some outpatients. We analyzed the patients' characteristics and the treatments used in each case. Our subjects were 9 patients who visited our clinic between May and September 2021. All subjects provided their written informed consent and were followed for several months. Decoctions or extract formulations were prescribed for treatment based on pattern identification, and general guidance related to lifestyle habits based on traditional thought was also provided. Fatigue, lifestyle of intemperance (due to excessive amounts of cold foods and drinks), and mental/physical stress were present in each patient. Some patients also felt strong anxiety about the lack of any established Western medical treatment and insufficient follow-up systems for patients with long-term effects of COVID-19 (long COVID). Tonic formulas and formulas of involving Bupleuri radix were often used. All 9 patients showed a tendency to improve their symptoms within 4 or 5 weeks of treatment. Our impression is that the prompt effect of Kampo medicine was achieved by combining the use of Kampo medicines with instructions to stop eating excessive amounts of cold foods and/or drinks. Further study is needed in the future. For long COVID, no Western medical treatment has yet been established. On the other hand, in our experience with these patients, Kampo medicine based on the concept of mind-body unity was useful.
RESUMO
There are few reports on the effects for children using the diagnostic method of Kampo medicine (called sho : pattern diagnosis). Therefore, we investigated the effects of combination therapy with Kampo medicines prescribed by specialists in this ancient form of medicine to children who were refractory to modern medicine. This was a retrospective observational study of 98 children (pre-school children (PS ; n = 21), elementary school students (ES ; n = 37) and junior high school students (JS ; n = 40)) younger than 16 years old at the first visit to our department of Chiba University hospital between April 2007 and April 2017. We collected the following information from their medical records : background, chief complaint, referral source, and efficacy of Kampo medicines. We evaluated efficacy for Kampo medicine as follows : Higher improvement (HI) (symptoms improved by 2/3 or more) ; Improvement (I) (symptoms improved by 1/3-2/3) ; Mild improvement (MI) (symptoms improved by 1/3 or less) ; constant ; aggravated ; and unknown or first visit only. Positive response (HI, I, and MI) due to Kampo medicines was observed in 76% (75/98) of patients. No aggravations were observed. The chief complaint by age was skin diseases in PS, digestive diseases in ES, and cardiovascular diseases in JS. Pediatrics was the primary referral in all ages, while 30% of JS were referred from psychiatry. Kampo medicine was significantly more effective for those in PS and ES compared to those in JS (p = 0.025). Combined use of Kampo medicine and modern medicine therapy is useful for children refractory to modern medicine.
RESUMO
Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicine saved many lives during the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-20. In Japan, acute viral respiratory infections represented by influenza have been called shokan (cold damage), and so on since ancient times. These infections were treated by prescriptions that were adopted from Chinese classical texts including “Shanghan lun (Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases),” “Xiaopin fāng (Prescriptions of Sketch),” “Tai ping hui min he jì ju fang (Formulary of the Bureau of Taiping People's Welfare Pharmacy),” and “Wan bing hui chun (Restoration of Health from Myriad Diseases).” Additional materials include (but are not limited to) “Ishimpo (Prescriptions of Medical Sprit),” “Ton-i-sho (Abstract of Medical Enlightenment),” and the diaries of some Muromachi aristocrats. In the Edo period (1603-1868), treatment with Kampo medicines developed uniquely in Japan, but due to medical and economic disparities, many patients could not be treated by Kampo experts. Ephedra herb, a key drug for treating shokan (cold damage), has shown major problems in terms of quality, because it has been confused with plants of the genus horsetail since at least the 8 th century ; its medicinal effects may therefore have been underestimated. The effectiveness of Kampo medicine against the novel influenza/coronavirus pandemic is anticipated, however, in order to fully exploit its potential, it is important that physicians with sufficient knowledge of Kampo should use Kampo medications properly.