• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose is to discuss the clinical applications of Orungsan(Goreisan: 五苓散) as an alternative management for increased intracranial pressure in the field of neurosurgery in Japan. Methods and Results : Attention has focused on Kampo medicine(traditional Japanese medicine) for some cerebral disease including chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH) and cerebral infarction in Japan. Orungsan and one of its classes, Sirungtang(Saireto: 柴苓湯) are well known their effects on brain edema. After some studies of Orungsan has the anti-edemic effects by the inhibition of aquaporin, this herbal medicine has been used widely in the neurosurgery field in Japan. It is high time to think about where we are and we go ahead for the progress and the integration in medicine. We have reviewed the studies using Orungsan or Sirungtang, that was reported at the 20th annual meeting of 'the Japan society for Kampo medicine and neurological surgery' was held on November 5, 2011 in Tokyo. Fifteen studies related with Orungsan or Sirungtang were reported among all 32 studies at the meeting. Orungsan in ten, and Sirungtang in five among 14 studies contained specific clinical case. In the aspects of disease, thirteen papers were related with SDH, including CSDH(11), SSDH(1), aneurism clipping for SDH prevention(1), and one was acute cerebral infarction and one was multiple metastatic brain tumor. In the report style, case control study was 7(mostly retrospective), and the case report was 8. Conclusions : Orungsan may be plausible to be an alternative method to reduce brain edema after SDH and other brain injury in the field of neurosurgery.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.110-114
• /
• 2003

Objective; Antistress effect of Korean red ginseng (RG) on postmenopausal women with severe climacteric syndrome (CS) were evaluated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine and Western medicine. Methods; All patients with CS were treated with daily oral administration of 6g RG for 30 days. Nine patients with CS were evaluated with the use of diagnostic scores for KI-deficiency (deficiency of vital energy) and OKETSU (blood stagnation) syndrome from the viewpoint of KAMPO-medicine. In the same patients with CS, peripheral blood levels of ${\beta}$-endorphin and total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (t-PAI-1) were measured before and after treatment with RG. In another group, 12 patients with CS, psychological test using CMI, STAI and SDS were performed from the viewpoint of Western medicine. Stress related hormones, such as ACTH, cortisol and DHEA-S in those 12 patients with CS were also measured before and after treatment with RG. Results; KI-deficiency score and OKETSU score in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.001) higher than those in patients without CS. After treatment with RG, both scores were markedly (p<0.001) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. ${\beta}$-endorphin levels in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. Total PAI-levels in patients with CS were increased before treatment with RG. No significant difference, however, were observed between patients with and without CS. After treatment with RG, both levels of ${\beta}$-endorphin and total PAI-1 in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. CMI and STAI scores in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. SDS scores in patients with CS were also markedly (p<0.00l) higher than in those without CS. After treatment with RG, all scores decreased within normal range. DHEA-S levels in patients with CS were about a half of those without CS. Consequently, cortisol/DHEA-S (C/D) ratio was significantly(p<0.001) higher in patients with CS than in those without CS. Although the decreased DHEA-S levels were not restored to the levels in patients without CS, the C/D ratio decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment with RG. Conclusion; Reinforcement of vital energy and improvement of stagnant blood circulations by oral administration of RG were elucidated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine. From the viewpoint of Western medicine, effect of RG on postmenopsusal women with CS seemed to be brought about in part by not only an improvement of psychoneuroendocrine dysfunctions but also an amelioration of blood coagulation systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2004.04a
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2004

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.33-44
• /
• 1993

The medicinal plants used traditional medicines are classified into two groups. The first group is formulary medicine which have been recorded on authorized books, for example, kampo drug in Japan. The second group is the fork medicines. These medicinal plants production is 165 billion yen(about 1.5 billion dollar) and which rate to to total pharmaceutical production is about 3% in 1990. The number of important medicinal plants treated in the market is 124 herbs from the total 364 herbs for kampo durgs(210 preparations kampo durgs) and other propritetary drugs (agents for common cold, laxatives, gastrointestional and so on). The production of the Ginseng and Bupleurum Root are increased about ten times in last twelve years(1976 or 1988). The 80% of these medicinal plants are imported from China, Korea and Southern Asian countries. Then the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau of Ministry of Health and Welfare published "The Guideline of Medicinal Plant for Cultivation" for a quality control and a stabilization supply of 80 herbs. The first part(1992) of the guideline reported 5 herbs; Coptis Rhizome, Rehmannia Root, Bupleur, Root, Japanese Angelica Root and Rhubarb, The next part will be published following 5herbs; Cnidium Rhizome, Safflower, Coix seed and Fruiet, Platicodon Root and Zedoary.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.138-144
• /
• 2004

Therapeutic effect of a Kampo medicine, Choto-san, in patients with vascular dementia was demonstrated by a double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial. To clarify the therapeutic efficacy of Choto-san, anti-ischemic effect in mice, hypotensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), anti-oxidative effects in vitro, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-blocking activity using Xenopus oocytes were studied. (1) Pretreatment with Choto-san (0.75-6.O g/kg, P.O.) or a component herb Chotoko (Uncaria genus: 75 - 600 mg/kg, P.O.) prevented ischemia-induced impairment of spatial learning behaviour in mice. Indole alkaloids- and phenolic fractions extracted from Chotoko also improved significantly the learning deficit. (2) Subchronic administration of Choto-san (0.5 g/kg, p.o.) caused a significant hypotensive effects in SHR. (3) Choto-san, Chotoko, and the phenolic constituent, (-) epicatechin, significantly protected the NG108-15 cell injury induced by $H_20_2$ exposure in vitro and also inhibited lipid peroxidation in the brain homogenate. (4) Indole alkaloids, rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline (1-100 uM), reversibly reduced NMDA-induced current in the receptor-expressed Xenopus oocytes. These results suggest that anti-vascular dementia effects of Choto-san are mainly due to the effect of Chotoko. From these results, it is possible to make a novel dietary supplement through several extraction steps from Chotoko.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.40-50
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to find out the correlation between the use of herbal extracts and the Sasang constitution of patients in Japan. Methods : We recruited 315 subjects who had been visiting the Center for Kampo Medicine for the treatment, Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. They answered SSCQ-P(Sasang Constitution Questionaire for Patients) questionnaire, a sasang constitution specialist interviewed them and diagnosed the sasang constitution. And the 80 herbal extracts subject's having taken were classified into four type Sasang constitutional herbal formulas according to "Donguisusebowon", the ingredients in a formula that have different role(sovereign, minister, assistant and courie) and effect and indication of formula. Results : 1. Among the total 315 subjects, the number of Taeyangin, Soyangin, Taeeumin, and Soeumin was 3(1.0%), 85(27.0%), 90(28.6%), and 137(43.5%). 2. Among the 80 herbal extracts subject's having taken, the number of each Soyangin, Taeeumin, and Soeumin herbal formulas was 30, 7 and 43. 3. 1 Soyangin and 2 Soeumin herbal formulas were prescribed in 3 Taeyangin subjects group. 29 Soyangin, 4 Taeeumin, 52 Soeumin herbal formulas were prescribed in 85 Soyangin subjects group. 39 Soyangin, 6 Taeeumin, 45 Soeumin herbal formulas were prescribed in 90 Taeeumin subjects group. 51 Soyangin, 6 Taeeumin, 80 Soeumin herbal formulas were prescribed in 137 Soeumin subjects group. Conclusions : The Soeumin rate in Japan was significantly higher than that in Korea. There was no significant correlation between the use of herbal extracts and the Sasang constitution in Japan.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.176-184
• /
• 2002

Objective; Antistress effect of Korean red ginseng (RG) on postmenopausal women with severe climacteric syndrome (CS) were evaluated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine and Western medicine. Methods; All patients with CS were treated with daily oral administration of 6g RG for 30 days. Nine patients with CS were evaluated with the use of diagnostic scores for KI-deficiency (deficiency of vital energy) and OKETSU (blood stagnation) syndrome from the viewpoint of KAMPa-medicine. In the same patients with CS, peripheral blood levels of $\beta$-endorphin and total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (t-PAI-1) were measured before and after treatment with RG. In another group, 12 patients with CS, psychological test using CMI, STAI and SDS were performed from the viewpoint of Western medicine. Stress related hormones, such as ACTH, cortisol and DHEA-S in those 12 patients with CS were also measured before and after treatment with RG. Results; KI-deficiency score and OKETSU score in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.001) higher than those in patients without CS. After treatment with RG, both scores were markedly (p<0.001) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. ${\beta}-endorphin$ levels in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. Total PAI-I levels in patients with CS were increased before treatment with RG. No significant difference, however, were observed between patients with and without CS. After treatment with RG, both levels of ${\beta}-endorphin$ and total PAI-l in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. CMI and STAI scores in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. SDS scores in patients with CS were also markedly (p<0.001) higher than in those without CS. After treatment with RG, all scores decreased within normal range. DHEA-S levels in patients with CS were about a half of those without CS. Consequently, cortisol/DHEA-S (C/D) ratio was significantly (p<0.001) higher in patients with CS than in those without CS. Although the decreased DHEA-S levels were not restored to the levels in patients without CS, the C/D ratio decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment with RG. Conclusion; Reinforcement of vital energy and improvement of stagnant blood circulations by oral administration of RG were elucidated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine. From the viewpoint of Western medicine, effect of RG on postmenopausal women with CS seemed to be brought about in part by not only an improvement of psychoneuroendocrine dysfunctions but also an amelioration of blood coagulation systems.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.2 s.9
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2002

The Objective of this study was to investigate present conditions of research institutes on traditional medicine in China, Chinese taipei, Japan and U.S.A. The subject institutes were China academy of traditional chinese medicine, National research institute of chinese medicine, Oriental medicine research center of the Kitasato institute, Institute of natural medicine in Toyama medical and pharmaceutical university, National center for complementary and alternative medicine. Various publications printed by each institute were collected and each web site wis searched. For further analysis, Interviews with managers and researchers of each institute were carried out.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.75-91
• /
• 2005

Great efforts have been made to improve both the quality of life and life expectancy of diabetes by treating problems associated with chronic complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. In particular, diabetes is an increased risk of developing several types of kidney disease, and the predominant cause of end-stage renal disease in patients with this disorder is diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, prevention of the occurrence and progression of diabetes and its complications has become a very important issue. The scientific observations of an animal model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, spontaneously occurring diabetes and diabetic nephropathy in this study suggest that one of the Kampo prescriptions, Hachimi-jio-gan comprising eight constituents, is a novel therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.16-20
• /
• 2016

Oriental medicine, since its origin in China, has had a long history extending over 2000 years. Today, it comprises several types of medicine predominately practiced in East Asia, including traditional Chinese, traditional Korean, and Kampo medicine. The distinctive medical system of traditional Korean medicine was established shortly after the publication of Donguibogam by Dr. Heo Jun in 1613. Donguibogam is highly acclaimed across East Asia; in 2009, in light of its historical medical value, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization registered the book on its cultural heritage list. Here, we review the historical medical value of Donguibogam. The findings confirm that Donguibogam developed a unique and independent form of traditional Korean medicine and innovatively reformed the disease classification system. Moreover, Donguibogam emphasized the importance of disease prevention and medical pragmatism. This book also accelerated the development of folk medicine. Owing to its historical medical value, Donguibogam is now considered the 'bible' of Oriental medicine. Its wide acceptance has contributed to the expansion of Korean medicine utilization among the general public. Donguibogam has also played an important role in the establishment of traditional Korean medicine as a universally valid and original form of medicine, independent of traditional Chinese medicine.