Among young American women, meal consumption perceived as unhealthy (UH) has been reported to have transiently negative effects on their self-esteem and body image (BI) compared to a meal perceived as healthy (H). However, it remains unclear whether or not the H diet elicits positive psychological responses. We therefore examined the effects of meals of different health perceptions on self-esteem, body appreciation (BA), and BI in thirteen young Japanese women. We used “H meal” containing rice, main and side dishes, and soup (P : F : C=8 : 22 : 60) or “UH meal” containing doughnuts and sugary drink (P : F : C=5 : 52 : 43) with equivalent energy and weight. Each subject was tested at approximately 9:00 a.m. after an overnight fast on two different days. Self-esteem, BA, current and ideal BI, and appetite feelings were measured from before to 2-hour after the consumption. A significantly higher scores of self-esteem and BA scores were found following consumption of the H meal as opposed to the UH meal. A greater ideal BI was observed after the H meal than the UH meal, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. These results suggest that transiently increases in self-esteem and BA were observed in young Japanese women following consumption of the meal perceived as healthy.

Somatic symptom and related disorders are characterized by “varied symptoms, long course, and complex background factors.” Negative results after repeated Western medical examination for the symptoms complained of by patients confuse medical practitioners because they are medically unexplainable. In our daily practice, we often experience cases that are diagnosed as “complaints” or “menopausal disorders” without hesitation especially in female patients, who are referred to obstetrics and gynecology. In this study, we performed kampo medicine for somatic symptom and related disorders in female patients in their 40s and 50s who referred to our department. In general, drug therapy is not the mainstay of treatment for somatic symptom and related disorders, but since the basic philosophy of kampo medicine is to support the patient by providing four examinations, it is thought that non-drug therapy can be practiced at the same time through general psychotherapy. In kampo medicine, the harmony of yin (blood and fluid) and yang (qi) is essential to maintain the homeostasis of the human, but in a stressful society, the disharmony between them causes physical and mental problems. In the original document ‘Kinkiyoryaku’, this is described as “mood”. It is interesting to note that the classical medical definition of “mood” has been translated into the modern term for “a state of mind and body that lasts to some extent, such as pleasantness or unpleasantness”. One of the most representative drugs for improving mood is keikyososooshimbuto, and by circulating qi, it circulates blood and fluid and regulates the state of mind and body. In extract formulations, it is often used as a substitute for keishitogomaobushisaishinto by combining keishito and maobushisaishinto. After 4 to 6 weeks of oral administration of keishitogomaobushisaishinto, the chronic pain which had been dismissed by other hospitals and sensitivity to cold that had been bothering her for 20 years improved. In the view of kampo medicine, various symptoms of somatic symptom and related disorders, which are often neglected because there is no abnormality in any examinations, are caused by “qi” and the treatment of keishitogomaobushisaishinto was effective in guiding the patient in the direction of regulating qi.