Table 2.
Kampo formulas for the treatment of climacteric disorders
| Name of formula | Syndrome | Pathophysiology | Excess or deficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinellia and magnolia bark decoction (ban xia hou po tang) | A sensation of something being stuck in the throat, attacks of palpitations, hurried breathing, uprushing of qi, chest pain, a soft abdomen, and splashing sound in the epigastric area | Phlegm | Excess |
| Licorice, wheat, and jujube decoction (gan mai da zâo tang) | Sad, cries easily, yawning, hysterical, insomnia | Restless visceral system disorder | Deficiency |
| Three-yellow and drain the epigastrium decoction (san huang xie xin tang) | No decrease of physical power, upflaring of fire, flushed red cheeks, restless mind, constipation | Yang brightness warp excess heat | Excess |
| Bupleurum plus dragon bone and oyster shell decoction (chai hu jia long gû mû li tang) | Strong constitution, restless mind, irritability and restlessness, easily angered, palpitations, insomnia, tight distension in epigastric area that is painful upon palpation | Joint disorder of the three yang warps | Excess |
| Augmented rambling powder (jia wei xiao yao sân) | Weak constitution, shoulder aches and pain, easily tired, irritability, easily angered, restless mind, heat vexation, flushed red cheeks, dizziness, insomnia | Liver blood deficiency with heat from constraint | Mixed (mainly deficiency) |
| Tangkuei and peony powder (dang gui shao yao sân) | Relatively weak constitution, cold boody, anaemic, easily tired, occasional sensations of pain in the lower abdomen, heavy head, dizziness, shoulder pain, tinnitus, palpitations, abdominal diagnosis reveals lack of strength | Blood and qi deficiency with dampness | Deficiency |
| Restrain the liver powder (yi gan sân) two-cured decoction (er chen tang) | Agitated, easily angered, restless sleep, soft and weak abdominal muscles, hyperactive aortic pulsation on the left side of the abdomen, resistance to pressure or even pain on palpation in left upper abdomen, | Blood deficiency with phlegm and wind-heat | Mixed (mainly deficiency) |
| Female spirit powder (nu shen sân) | Uprushing, palpitations, headache, dizziness, back feels like burnt, intense heat, sweating, depression, restlessness, long-term insomnia, constipation | Qi stagnation | Excess |
| Cinnamon twig and poria pill (gui zhi fu ling wan) | Strong constitution, red complexion, headaches, dizziness, abdominal pain, shoulder pain, palpitations, abdominal fullness, resistance to pressure or even pain on palpation of lower abdomen, irregular menstruation | Blood stasis and water accumulation | Mixed (mainly excess) |
| Poria, cinnamon twig, licorice, and jujube decoction (ling gui gan zâo tang) | Attacks of palpitations in lower abdomen, uprushing of qi from the lower abdomen to the heart and chest, accelerated breathing, dizziness, sweating from the head, palpitations | Unstable qi in lower jiao due to excess water | Mixed |
From Ref. 49, p. 576.