Walking just after a meal seems to be more effective for weight loss than waiting for one hour to walk after a meal.

There is a belief that walking just after a meal causes fatigue, stomach ache, and other types of discomfort. However, the author and one volunteer participant had no such negative reactions, and found that walking just after a meal was more effective for weight loss than waiting one hour after eating before walking. For people who do not experience abdominal pain, fatigue, or other discomfort when walking just after a meal, walking at a brisk speed for 30 minutes as soon as possible just after lunch and dinner leads to more weight loss than does walking for 30 minutes beginning one hour after a meal has been consumed. The author lost nearly 3 kg and a volunteer participant lost nearly 1.5 kg during one month of walking just after lunch and dinner. The author walked at a brisk pace, while the volunteer walked at a stroll. We repeated the preliminary experiment twice, between April and early May 2002, and once between August and September 2006, and obtained the same results.

Sairei-to therapy on alloimmune recurrent spontaneous abortions and alloimmune-, autoimmune complicated recurrent spontaneous abortions.

Alloimmune recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) cases that could not be treated with lymphocyte transfusion due to medical and social reasons were treated with Sairei-to therapy as an emergency measure and all four cases resulted in live births. This may show that Sairei-to treatment is effective in preventing alloimmune RSA. The efficacy of Sojyutsu-Sairei-to and Byakujyutsu-Sairei-to on autoimmune RSA has already been proven. When they were used in the treatment of alloimmune-, autoimmune complicated RSA, the abortion prevention rates were 65.4% and 82.3% respectively. These results indicate that Sairei-to is effective in the treatment of alloimmune RSA and alloimmune-, autoimmune complicated RSA.

Kampo medicines improved blood test and QOL in two vasculitis cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome and Henoch-Shönlein purpura after inadequate treatment with conventional therapies.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the tenets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, Kampo medicines were selected and applied to two cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome and Henoch-Shönlein purpura. Two vasculitis syndrome patients exhibited persistent symptoms and abnormal blood tests after treatment with conventional therapies. METHODS: As the two cases had "blood stagnation" and "damps and heat" and one had a "yang deficiency" in terms of TCM theory, we applied certain selected Kampo medicines. RESULTS: In case 1, the patient presented with hypereosinophilia, venous thrombosis, pulmonary infarction, decreased platelet count, ulner nerve palsy and Raynaud's phenomena, which led to a diminished quality of life. After starting the Kampo medicines, the patient improved quickly and recovered within 11 months. In case 2, persistent purpura, abdominal pain, and bloody feces quickly improved and disappeared after Kampo treatment. After starting the Kampo medicines, prednisolone was stopped at 21 days without any sign of relapse to date. CONCLUSION: Kampo medicines helped clear the persistent abnormal symptoms and laboratory findings of vasculitis syndromes, Churg-Strauss syndrome and Henoch-Shönlein purpura, which had responded inadequately to the conventional therapies administered.

Treatment for intractable anemia with the traditional Chinese medicines Hominis Placenta and Cervi Cornus Colla (deer antler glue).

OBJECTIVE: Intractable anemia, such as aplastic anemia or that presumably associated with chronic herpes virus infections, sometimes require bone marrow transplant. We investigated the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of intractable anemia. METHOD: Placenta Hominis (PH), steam boiled and roasted, and Cervi Cornus Colla (deer antler glue) has been used in China for hundreds of years to treat anemia. After consent was obtained, we prescribed these two materials for a 74-year-old female with aplastic anemia and a 26-year-old male with presumably a virus-induced anemia. Concomitant conventional therapy was continued in both patients as prescribed by their respective attending physicians. CONCLUSION: Conventional therapy with steroid hormones, immunosuppressive drugs, platelet and erythrocyte transfusions were not effective in these patients. In addition, both patients suffered from serious side effects. In two patients, ingestion of Placenta Hominis and Cervi Cornus Colla with TCM prescriptions increased the platelet and enhanced the hemoglobin concentration in several months of therapy accompanied by a dramatic improvement in quality of life. The addition to conventional therapy of PH and Cervi Cornus Colla, the latter of which is very easy to obtain, may be one of the potentially advantageous choices in case of otherwise intractable anemia.

Kampo medicine, based on traditional medicine theory, in treating uncured glossodynia: efficacy in five clinical cases.

Glossodynia, or tongue pain, is resistant to conventional therapies. Kampo medicines were evaluated in patients suffering from incurable glossodynia. Patients were diagnosed by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory in order to determine the appropriate herbal prescriptions. Five Japanese females (50-76 years old) with glossodynia refractory to conventional therapy were enrolled in this study. Small portions of rikkunshito, jiinkokato, hachimijiogan and ryutanshakanto worked for a female diagnosed with "Spleen" and "Heart" Yin deficiency, "Kidney" Yang deficiency and "Liver" Qi stagnation producing heat syndrome. Seishoekkito and bakumondoto were effective for a patient diagnosed with "Spleen Qi" deficiency and "Stomach" Yin deficiency producing heat syndrome. Rikkunshito, kamikihito and chikujountanto worked for a patient diagnosed with "Spleen Qi" and "Heart Yin" deficiency, stagnation of "Liver" Qi producing fire and "Gallbladder" Qi deficiency. Rokumijiogan, kamishoyosan and kambakutaisoto were effective for a patient with Yang rise based on Yin deficiency of "Kidney" and "Liver," and restless organ disorder based on Yin deficiency of 5 viscera. A patient diagnosed with "Spleen" Yang deficiency responded to a combination of anchusan and hangeshashinto. These patients with glossodynia had resolution of pain within 1 month of treatment. Herbal mixtures containing Ganoderam lucidum, not prescribed based on TCM theory, but effective for herpes virus infection, worked for a female suffering from glossodynia for 1 year after artificial teeth were placed, but required about 5 months to note improvement. Kampo medicines, properly prescribed based on TCM theory, quickly resolved the pain of refractory glossodynia.

Herbal mixtures containing the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum improve recovery time in patients with herpes genitalis and labialis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the time course for resolution of symptoms from recurrent herpes simplex viral infections after treatment with the herbal mixture WTTCGE [Wisteria floribunda, Trapa natans, Terminalia chebulae, Coicis lachryma-jobi, Ganoderma lucidum, Elfuinga applanata]. METHODS: Fifteen (15) patients with herpes genitalis (49.3+/-12.0: mean+/-standard deviation age in years), and 13 patients with herpes labialis (43.7+/-12.9), were studied. All had been suffering from recurrent herpes outbreaks for more than 1 year, and had received regular outpatient treatment at other medical institutions without improvement. RESULTS: The herbal mixture, WTTCGE appeared to provide fast, effective relief from the symptoms of recurrent herpes genitalis and labialis. The mean duration before relief from herpes genitalis occurred was 10.9+/-6.3 days without WTTCGE treatment and 4.9+/-1.3 days with it (p<0.002). Similarly, the time required to obtain relief from herpes labialis was 7.8+/-4.3 days without WTTCGE treatment and 4.0+/-1.1 days with it (p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of WTTCGE to patients suffering from herpes genitalis and labialis appears to shorten the time required to obtain symptom relief as has been shown in a previous report.

Two kampo medicines, jidabokuippo and hachimijiogan alleviate sprains, bruises and arthritis.

In traditional Chinese medicine theory (TCM), the affected parts of sprains, bruises and arthritis are considered to be under certain conditions of TCM concept. We administered two Kampo medicines with synergistic effects to promote quick recovery from these conditions. Jidabokuippo (Zhidapuyifang in Chinese), which means 'decoction for contusions' is expected to remove these conditions. Hachimijiogan (Baweidihuangwan in Chinese), which translates as 'eight-ingredient pill with Rehmannia' is expected to restore presumed minute bone injury and regulates bone metabolism by changing such conditions based on TCM theory. We administered the two prescriptions to 10 patients (age range: 40-85 years; 1 male, 9 females) suffering from bruises, sprains, arthritis and spinal compression fracture without changing their routine intake of other drugs. Patients reported on changes in the pain of affected body parts by using the visual analog scale (VAS) before and after administration of Kampo medicine. In almost all cases, recovery began promptly after administration and the pain disappeared within approximately 2 weeks. Large doses for a short time brought about much quicker recovery than small doses. Administration of a combination of two Kampo medicines, Jidabokuippo and Hachimijiogan, quickly resolved the pain of bruises, sprains, arthritis and one spinal compression fracture.

Traditional chinese medicine treatment of epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine, specifically the traditional herbal formulation Bu-yang-huan-wu-tang, for treating epilepsy stemming from cerebrovascular dysfunction. SUBJECTS: Three adult patients with epilepsy refractory to standard antiepileptic medications were involved. RESULTS: All three showed substantial improvement in the frequency and severity of seizures after Bu-yanghuan- wu-tang was added to conventional medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Decrease of seizure frequency and severity in three epileptic patients was achieved by adding Bu-yang-huan-wu-tang to conventional therapy according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. This treatment mainly relied on the resolution of blood stagnation in cerebrovascular systems. Blood stagnation is an important underlying pathology of many disease processes according to TCM theory.

Analgesic treatment with Kampo prescription.

Mankind has searched throughout the ages for analgesic substances. Many natural products have been exploited. Investigating plants and plant-derived metabolites has advanced the understanding of important mechanisms related to the process of pain transmission, nociception and treatment. While modern, conventional Western analgesics represent the main pain medication prescribed in Japan, the traditional Kampo medicines composed of herbs are also used in daily analgesic treatment. The national health insurance system for Kampo medicines was established in Japan in 1976. At present, 148 remedies are covered by this health insurance system. More than 70% of medical doctors in Japan prescribe Kampo medicines to patients suffering from a wide variety of problems, including menopausal symptoms, chronic diseases, pain disorders and conditions with failed or suboptimal conventional therapy. In the anesthesia departments of many large medical facilities, doctors administer Kampo medicines, alone and in combination with conventional medications, to provide analgesia. Here, an overview is given to the history and the present state of Kampo medicine use in Japan for the management of pain.

Effect of an herbal formula containing Ganoderma lucidum on reduction of herpes zoster pain: a pilot clinical trial.

Administration of hot water extracts of a herbal formula containing Ganoderma lucidum, WTMCGEPP (Wisteria floribunda 0.38, Trapa natans 0.38, Miristica agrans 0.38, Coix lachryma-jobi 0.75, cultivated Ganoderma lucidum 0.75, Elfuinga applanata 0.38, tissue cultured Panax ginseng 0.3, and Punica granatum 0.38: numerals designate dry weight gram/dose), decreased herpes zoster pain for five Japanese patients suffering from shingles. Pain relief started within a few days of intake and was almost complete within 10 days. Two acute herpes zoster with manifestations including trigeminal nerve ophthalmia (both 74 years old), lower body zoster (70 years old), herpes zoster oticus (17 years old), and leg herpes (28 years old), responded quickly to treatment and no patient developed post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) after more than one year of follow-up.