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Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) has been used in clinical practice for pain symptoms worldwide. However, the safety of YNSA and the role of the diagnosis and stimulation points have never been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the safety of YNSA and the relationship between the diagnosis points, the stimulation points, and changes in shoulder stiffness. YNSA was performed at the shoulder point A, acupuncture at the non-shoulder point D, and no intervention as a control in 15 healthy participants three times with a washout period of 1 week. Adverse reactions (changes in blood pressure, changes in heart rate, or bleeding), objective evaluation of the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and muscle hardness (MH) scores at the shoulder, and subjective evaluation of shoulder stiffness with a visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded before, during, and 20 min after stimulation. In the safety evaluation, no adverse reactions such as hypotension, bradycardia, or bleeding/hematoma were observed. PPT and MH revealed no significant difference between the conditions. There was a significant difference in the VAS between all three conditions (p = 0.039). Post-hoc analysis showed a significant difference between controls and D-point stimulation (p = 0.034), but no significant difference between A- and D-point stimulation. VAS subanalysis and post-hoc analysis in right-LI4-positive subjects (n = 4) showed a significant difference in VAS between A-point stimulation and controls (p = 0.01, 0.015, respectively). Our pilot investigation exhibited the safety of YNSA. Diagnosis and stimulation points may relate to changes in shoulder stiffness; however, further comparative studies with YNSA are required.

Background: Pneumonia is the fifth most common cause of death among the Japanese, with 97% of deaths occurring among elderly people aged 65 years or older. The incidence ratio of aspiration pneumonia is high for elderly people. Therefore, prophylaxis is important in geriatric medicine. In our previous studies, we reported that stimulation to the acupoints at ST36 and KI3 of the lower limbs with press needle improved the swallowing function of patients with dysphagia. The improvement of swallowing function may prevent aspiration pneumonia. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective efficacy of using press needle stimulation in the lower limbs for aspiration pneumonia.Methods/design: This is a multi-center, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. A total of 140 patients with cerebrovascular disorder with a history of aspiration pneumonia will be recruited from six centers and randomly assigned to either the real press needle group or the sham press needle group in a 1:1 ratio. The press needle will be replaced twice a week. Treatment will be administered bilaterally at acupoints ST36 and KI3. The primary outcome is the frequency of onset of aspiration pneumonia. The secondary outcome is improvement of the latent time of swallowing reflex (LTSR). The investigation period is of 12-month. The primary outcome will be evaluated throughout the period, and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 1st month, 6th month, and at the end of the investigation period.Discussion: This study will evaluate the effects of press needle on prevention of aspiration pneumonia and improvement of swallowing function of patients. The results of this study will help support the prophylaxis of aspiration pneumonia.Trial registration: UMIN000023123, registered on July 12th, 2016; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000026460

Large-scale natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons, occur worldwide. After the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, our medical support operation’s experiences suggested that traditional medicine might be useful for treating the various symptoms of the survivors. However, little information is available regarding herbal medicine treatment in such situations. Considering that further disasters will occur, we performed a literature review and summarized the traditional medicine approaches for treatment after large-scale disasters. We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library for articles written in English, and Ichushi for those written in Japanese. Articles published before 31 March 2016 were included. Keywords “disaster” and “herbal medicine” were used in our search. Among studies involving herbal medicine after a disaster, we found two randomized controlled trials investigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), three retrospective investigations of trauma or common diseases, and seven case series or case reports of dizziness, pain, and psychosomatic symptoms. In conclusion, herbal medicine has been used to treat trauma, PTSD, and other symptoms after disasters. However, few articles have been published, likely due to the difficulty in designing high quality studies in such situations. Further study will be needed to clarify the usefulness of herbal medicine after disasters.

Aim Orengedokuto (coptis detoxification decoction) is a medicinal extract widely used in Japan for the alleviation of symptoms of alcohol hangover and flush reaction. There have been no studies, however, on the effects of this medication on the concentration of alcohol in humans. The aim of this preliminary experiment was therefore to determine the effects of orengedokuto given before alcohol consumption, on breath alcohol concentration. Methods Three healthy adults participated in the experiment. Breath alcohol concentration was measured with a breathalyzer at multiple intervals under two conditions: one with only the alcoholic beverage and one with orengedokuto extract (Matsuura orengedokuto fine powdered extract, 1.45 g) followed by an alcoholic beverage. Results There was a lower peak and a faster decrease in breath alcohol concentration when the extract was given prior to alcohol consumption, suggesting that the extract accelerated the metabolism and/or inhibited the absorption of alcohol. Conclusions This preliminary study was limited by small sample size and lack of blood sampling. Additional trials using a cross-over design with a larger sample size to further investigate the effects of orengedokuto on blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels after consumption of alcohol, are currently in progress.

Traditional Japanese Kampo medicine has been widely used in clinical practice in Japan. Though it is a compulsory subject in Japanese medical schools, a standard educational program in Kampo medicine does not exist. Tohoku University has incorporated Kampo medicine into clinical education via didactic lectures since 2003; however, student evaluations have been lower for Kampo than for all other clinical specialties. We administered a questionnaire about a Kampo medicine course for fifth-year students from 2009 to 2012 and developed an educational program based on feedback obtained. The questionnaire consisted of nine questions (a clear training plan; opportunities for learning, practice, and patient contact; acquisition of medical knowledge and physical examination; learning professionalism; understanding the specialty; overall assessment) that were rated on a 5-point Likert scale along with open-ended questions about the course's strengths and weaknesses. The students responded to the questionnaire after clinical practice in Kampo medicine and other clinical specialty courses. Scores for Kampo medicine and the average of other clinical specialties were compared. All 389 students who participated in Kampo clinical practice answered the questionnaire. In 2009, scores for Kampo medicine for nine questions were lower than for the average of the other clinical specialties. After curriculum reformation involving hands-on training in 2012, all scores except "opportunities to learn about clinical cases" and "opportunities to practice involvement" were higher than the average of all other clinical specialties. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a Kampo medicine educational program for our university through this survey study.

The Great East Japan Earthquake inflicted immense damage over a wide area of eastern Japan with the consequent tsunami. Department of Traditional Asian Medicine, Tohoku University, started providing medical assistance to the disaster-stricken regions mainly employing traditional Asian therapies. We visited seven evacuation centers in Miyagi and Fukushima Prefecture and provided acupuncture/massage therapy. While massage therapy was performed manually, filiform needles and press tack needles were used to administer acupuncture. In total, 553 people were treated (mean age, 54.0 years; 206 men, 347 women). Assessment by interview showed that the most common complaint was shoulder/back stiffness. The rate of therapy satisfaction was 92.3%. Many people answered that they experienced not only physical but also psychological relief. At the time of the disaster, acupuncture/massage therapy, which has both mental and physical soothing effects, may be a therapeutic approach that can be effectively used in combination with Western medical practices.

Zusammenfassung Nachdem am 11. Marz 2011 ein schweres Erdbeben den Osten Japans erschutterte, verursachte der darauffolgende Tsunami noch verheerendere Schaden. Praktisch wurden in der betroffenen Region alle sozialen Versorgungseinrichtungen lahmgelegt oder zerstort, so auch die medizinische Basisversorgung [ 1 , 2 ]. Wir leisteten arztliche Unterstutzung in den betroffenen Gebieten, indem wir hauptsachlich die traditionelle Medizin, wie sie in Japan praktiziert wird, anwandten. Dort, wo Infrastrukturen mit modernen medizinischen Einrichtungen zerstort waren, wurden traditionelle Methoden auf der Basis von einfacher korperlicher Untersuchung und Behandlung mit Kampo-Phytotherapie, Akupunktur & Moxibustion bzw. Massagen wirksam eingesetzt. Diese erwiesen sich sowohl fur die Diagnostik als auch fur die Therapie als sehr nutzlich in einer derartig kritischen Situation.

Moxibustion therapy has been used in East Asian medicine for more than a thousand years. However, there are some problems associated with this therapy in clinical practice. These problems include lack of control over the treatment temperature, emission of smoke, and uneven temperature distribution over the treatment region. In order to resolve these problems, we developed a precise temperature-control device for use as an alternate for conventional moxibustion therapy. In this paper, we describe the treatment of a single patient with paralytic ileus that was treated with moxibustion. We also describe an evaluation of temperature distribution on the skin surface after moxibustion therapy, the development of a heat-transfer control device (HTCD), an evaluation of the HTCD, and the clinical effects of treatment using the HTCD. The HTCD we developed can heat the skin of the treatment region uniformly, and its effect may be equivalent to conventional moxibustion, without the emission of smoke and smell. This device can be used to treat ileus, abdominal pain, and coldness of abdomen in place of conventional moxibustion in modern hospitals.

Summary The objective of this study was to develop a questionnaire for the diagnosis of Qi stagnation. At first, we made the preliminary version of the questionnaire from 30 symptoms most frequently mentioned about Qi stagnation in classic books of Oriental Medicine. Two hundred and seven participants completed the preliminary version of the questionnaire rating the severity of 30 symptoms. Those participants were assessed for Qi stagnation by 2 physicians. Logistic regression analysis was performed between the physicians' assessment of Qi stagnation and the severity of symptoms in the preliminary questionnaire. The final version of the questionnaire was developed with 23 symptoms that had significant odds ratios. The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.83. The area under the curve was 0.90 and cut-off value for diagnosis of Qi stagnation was 28.5 in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Sensitivity and specificity were 0.83 and 0.80, respectively. The Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.72 in the test–retest. This questionnaire would enable standardization and objective verification of the diagnosis of Qi stagnation.

Background. The relation between glaucoma and retrobulbar circulation in the prognosis has been indicated.Purpose. To investigate the effects of acupuncture on retrobulbar circulation in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients.Methods. Eleven OAG patients (20 eyes with OAG) who were treated by topical antiglaucoma medications for at least 3 months were enrolled. Acupuncture was performed once at acupoints BL2, M-HN9, ST2, ST36, SP6, KI3, LR3, GB20, BL18, and BL23 bilaterally. Retrobulbar circulation was measured with color Doppler imaging, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was also measured at rest and one hour after rest or before and after acupuncture.Results. TheΔvalue of the resistive index in the short posterior ciliary artery (P<.01) and theΔvalue of IOP (P<.01) were decreased significantly by acupuncture compared with no acupuncture treatment.Conclusions. Acupuncture can improve the retrobulbar circulation and IOP, which may indicate the efficacy of acupuncture for OAG.