Effects of Japanese Kampo Medicine on Climacteric Syndrome

Abstract

Sixty-five patients who complained of various unidentified symptoms (undefined clinical syndrome), including 59 with climacteric syndrome, received Kampo medicine for eight weeks or more according to scores for their body constitution. Saiko-keishi-kankyo-to was given to those with a deficient constitution, Saiko-karyukotsu-borei-to to those with a robust constitution, and Kami-shoyo-san to those with a medium constitution.
A deficient constitution was more common among those aged 40 to 49, while those with a robust constitution increased in patients aged 50 to 59. The pretreatment climacteric index was comparable among the three groups, and most of them were mild to moderate. The faces of those with a robust constitution had more gloss and a tenser texture while those with deficient constitution were paler and had a face with less of a tense texture. Other signs such as a repeated epigastric splashing sound, hypochondriac resistance, dark rings around the eyes, dark purple tongue, and paraumbilical resistance were similar between those with robust and deficient constitutions. These signs were mild and observed in about 90% of patients. They therefore appear to be common signs among patients suffering from undefined clinical syndrome.
The severity of conditions determined by the mean value of the climacteric index was moderate among those with robust to medium constitutions and mild among those with deficient constitutions. The index was reduced to the normal values within two weeks of starting Kampo medicine in those with a deficient constitution, within six weeks in those with a medium constitution, and within eight weeks in those with a robust constitution. The mean values of clinical laboratory test results and hormone levels remained unchanged during treatment (eight weeks).
The overall improvement rating (“markedly improved” plus “improved”) was high (80%) in those with a deficient constitution, and slightly above 60% in those with a medium and a robust constitution. Safety was very high in all Kampo medicine used. The clinical value (“very useful” plus “useful”) was highest with Saiko-keishi-kankyoto given to those with a deficient constitution, followed by Kami-shoyo-san given to those with a medium constitution and Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to given to those with a robust constitution in that order.