Visceral fat obesity is closely associated with lifestyle-related diseases that include symptoms such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, etc. To examine the correlation between pulse, appearance of tongue, and abdominal palpation-diagnostic indicators according to Kampo medicine-and visceral fat obesity, we investigated 209 subjects who received health screenings, and obtained the following results. 1) The simply obese subjects, as determined by body mass index, showed symptoms of excess state, Kidepression, and stasis of body fluids according to the diagnostic techniques of Kampo medicine. 2) The visceral fat-rich subjects were diagnosed by means of abdominal ultrasonography and showed symptoms of pulsus maximum and Oketsu (blood stasis) state.

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There are many indications for Ryo-kei-jutsu-kan-to, such as orthostatic hypotension, cardiac neurosis, migraine, congestive heart failure, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and eye disease. Although in oriental medicine Ryo-kei-jutsu-kan-to is used as a hydragogue agent for sui-doku (disorders of the body's fluid metabolism), its actual effect on hydragogue action remains unclear. We previously carried out hemodynamics tests before and after administration of Ryo-kei-jutsu-kan-to for a patient with orthostatic hypotension due to peripheral autonomic disorder. The pathosis of the patient before administration of Ryo-kei-jutsu-kan-to was found to be sui-doku caused by the excessive increase of circulating blood volume. We reported that after administration of Ryo-kei-jutsu-kan-to the blood pressure of the patient in the standing position was elevated by increased peripheral vascular resistance, while excessively increased circulating blood volume decreased. This time we administered Ryo-kei-jutsu-kan-to for four cases, such as orthostatic hypotension with migraine, cardiac neurosis, congestive heart failure, and hypotension in dialysis. We again realized that it also increases peripheral vascular resistance. As one of the dimensions of so-called hydragogue action, it is important to understand that Ryo-kei-jutsu-kan-to has a hydragogue effect against the retention of excess fluids (sui-doku) in the body through increasing peripheral vascular resistance by vasoconstriction.

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Kaolin was tested on 180 crude drugs for use as a coloring agent. Eight crude drugs—Atractylodis Rhizoma, Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma, Magnoliae Cortex, Asiasari Radix, Pogostemi Herba, Linderae Radix, Citri Leiocarpae Exocarpium and Caryophylli Flos-exhibited coloration. The present results indicate that kaolin can be added as a colorant to crude drugs as a simple method for the distinguishing and identifying the crude drugs in the Kampo pharmacy.

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A 61-year-old female had suffered from diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting since 1984. Although she had been treated with anticholinergics, antidiarrhoics, and Lactobacillus derivatives, the symptoms were unchanged. In July 1988, a partial resection of the distal ileum was performed to overcome adhesive ileus, but soft or mucous feces remained after surgery. The pathological diagnosis of the specimen was Crohn's disease. From July 1994, oral administration of Sairei-to (9g/day) was started. Within two weeks, the feces became normal. The patient gained 2kg of weight in 2 months. In May 1996, the dose of Sairei-to was reduced to 6g/day without changing her condition. In September, she started to take 30g of Perilla oil every day. Sairei-to was discontinued in May 1997 after the dose was reduced to 3g/day for a month. The total duration of Sairei-to therapy was 2 years and 10 months. Ordinary defecation has been observed for 1 year and 3 months since Sairei-to was discontinued. In conclusion, a remission was achieved in a patient suffering from Crohn's disease with a long-term administration of Sairei-to, and the prescription was discontinued for more than a year without recurrence.

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Most patients with taste disorders are usually treated with zinc, but there still remain many untreatable patients, including non-responders and those of advanced age. In this study, we report on three patients with hypogeusia who showed improvement after the administration of Kampo medicine. A 49-year-old female diagnosed with hypogeusia and hyposensation of the oral cavity responded to Oren-gedoku-to. A 43-year-old male diagnosed as having schizophrenia and hypogeusia and a 76-year-old female with idiopathic hypogeusia responded to Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to. Kampo medicines are considered to normalize zinc-related neuro-transmissions originating in the vallate taste buds. Furthermore, the curative effect of Oren-gedoku-to on inflammation-injured oral cavity membranes, and the psychotropic effect of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to on improving hypogeusia, were shown in our patients. It should be noted that the recent increase in aged patients complaining of taste disorders might be related to aging-associated depression. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to or related Kampo formulations are considered to have wide applications for depressed or aged patients with hypogeusia.

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A 62-year-old woman showed signs of liver dysfunction of unknown etiology in 1994. She was admitted to our hospital in July 1996 because the liver dysfunction, as well as general fatigue, worsened. Anti-mitochondrial antibodies were present, and a liver biopsy was performed. Pathological findings were compatible with primary biliary cirrhosis. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (600mg/day) was initiated in August 1996, and liver dysfunction improved. However, ESR and IgM did not improve, and general fatigue persisted. In December 1996, Sairei-to was combined with ursodeoxycholic acid. One month later, ESR, IgM, and general fatigue improved. In May 1997, Sairei-to was replaced by Keishibukuryo-gan because of her symptoms (Hie-sho and varix pain), and liver dysfunction and general fatigue reappeared. Keishibukuryo-gan was later discontinued because of suspected drug-induced hepatitis. Two months later, liver dysfunction remained unimproved. Sairei-to was administered again and liver dysfunction and other symptoms disappeared. These results suggest that combined therapy with Sairei-to and ursodeoxycholic acid is effective in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.

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A 60-year-old male patient visited the Oriental Medicine Research Institute of the Kitasato on ***** because of abdominal discomfort. Hangeshashin-to was administered to him and the abdominal discomfort was relieved. He continued to take Hangeshashin-to from June to August 1997. He had chills, high fever, and fatigue from ********. He stopped Hangeshashin-to and took Shosaiko-to for five days because of liver dysfunction. He was admitted to our hospital on ********. Antibiotics and stronger neo-minophagen C were administered to him. A chest roentgenogram revealed a ground-glass shadow on the left upper lung, and Shosaiko-to was discontinued. The patient began to complain of dyspnea and had fine crackles on the chest. A chest roentgenogram and chest CT showed interstitial pneumonitis. Oral predonisolone therapy was started for hypoxemia and the patient improved. A drug lymphocytes stimulation test revealed that lymphocytes were stimulated by Shosaiko-to and its components, Saiko and Ogon. A chest roentgenogram just before ingesting Hangeshashin-to revealed the interstitial change of the lung. Taken all together, this patient suffered from druginduced hepatitis and pneumonitis as a result of ingesting Hangeshashin-to and Shosaiko-to.

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A 43-year-old man who suffered from aconitine poisoning was treated effectively with Kampo medicine (Go-rei-san extracts). He showed polyuria and severe ventricular arrhythmia on the ECG. Ventricular arrhythmia improved in accordance with normalization of urination. Go-rei-san may be useful for the treatment of aconitine poisoning.

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It is reported that the administration of Seinetsu-hoketsu-to has been effective in four cases of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The literature states that Seinetsu-hoketsu-to is indicated for “blood deficiency and the combination of pathogenic dryness and heat in blood which causes ulceration or erosion with scaling pain in the tongue and oral mucosa, and its healing is often prolonged.” All four cases the patients are female. Their aphthous stomatitis is often exacerbated during pregnancy, childbirth, and/or each menstruation. In one case aphthous stomatitis reoccurred after the remission of general symptoms due to high fever and inflammation in the acute phase of Beçhet disease. The conclusion is that Seinetsu-hoketsu-to would be useful to patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis in conditions where blood deficiency is worsening.

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This paper is an effort to identify the benefits of Anma therapy's theory and technique from the ancient literature of Chinese medicine as having significance for modem medical manipulation. Our study is based on “The Yellow Emperor's Manual of Corporeal Medicine; Questions about Living Matter, and the Vital Axis (edited in the Sung Period).” The conclusions drawn from the results are as follows:
(1) The name of Anma appears in four parts of the literature. It may be said that there was already a manipulation called Anma in the Han Period.
(2) Generally the term ‘an’ means that sensations are sent downwards in the tonic or syndromic direction, while ‘ma’ means that they are sent upwards in the sedative or antidromic direction, According to the previous two books, however, both ‘an’ and ‘ma’ both have upwards and downwards effects.
(3) It is clearly indicated that applications of Anma therapy are available for paralysis, feeling of cold, stiffness, etc. These conditions are caused by poor circulation of chi (Chinese) and blood. The effect of Anma therapy is to improve such circulation.
(4) Anma therapy was the one original method in the Han Period. In these classical texts, we found that it was highly advantageous to apply other methods with Anma therapy. In order to advance the usefulness of current Anma therapy, it is essential to re-evaluate classical techniques with regard to the fundamental facts and principles of medical science.

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