Volume 9, Number 1 | Spring 2014

Clinical Report 2 (Kampo Medicine)
A Case in Which Saikokaryukotsuboreito and Other Kampo
Drugs were Effective against Night-crying in a Thirteenmonth-old Girl
Hideaki Yamaguchi
Tosei General HospitalNight-crying is a symptom that tends to be taken
lightly, as it is a condition with good prognosis, but it
induces child-raising anxiety in some mothers, andcould even lead to abuse if left unattended.

andcry

every

hour.

Kanbakudaisoto extract was prescribed at a local
hospital, but no changes were observed. Even after
being weaned at age 1, she continued to cry and befussy every two hours, thus causing the mother tobecome exhausted from lack of sleep. The childwas quick-tempered and always restless, andwould throw her head back when crying. She waswhat people typically called a “difficult child.”
Diagnosis and prescription: Assuming category 3
and 2 symptoms, yokukansan extract 1/2 packet +shokenchuto 1/2 packet (before sleep) wereprescribed.
Course: After two weeks, the symptom abatedslightly, from level 10 to 8, so shokenchuto wassymptom subsided. The prescription is beingcontinued.
Observation:
Night-crying is a behavior that is experienced by
60% of children by the time they are one-and-ahalf years old. They wake up in the middle of thenight and cry, seeking their parent’s attention.
Normally, it is transitory, and decreases infrequency from around the age of 1. In Kampo

cases of night-crying. However, as this caseentailed

acertaindegreeofseverity,

kanbakudaisoto was ineffective. Judging by othercharacteristics, the night-crying was also thought
to be an early symptom of autism spectrum
disorder.

First,

yokukansankachinpihange in

category 3 and shokenchuto in category 2 wereused in combination, but the effect was insufficient,so Saikokaryukotsuboreito, having the effects of
C1+C2, was used, with the result that its
combined usage with yokukansankachinpihange
improved the symptom. In Kampo treatment ofnight-crying, it is important to administer aslightly larger dose before sleep. Doing so quickens
the effect. When kanbakudaisoto is ineffective, use

yokukansan or saikokaryukotsuboreito.

replaced with saikokaryukotsuboreito extract
granules 1 packet (before sleep). The night-crying
declined from level 8 to around 3, and the child’s
mood at nursery school improved. The prescription
was suspended once when she developed acutegastroenteritis, but the symptom worsened, so theprescription was resumed. As a result, the nightcrying declined, but the child tended to be in a poormood at nursery school, so the prescription waschanged to yokukansan (in the morning) and14Her

light to moderate symptoms, it can abate mostHistory of present illness: From birth, the childupsleep).

first choice since 300 years ago, and in the case ofChief complaint: Night-cryingwake(before

medicine, kanbakudaisoto has been the drug ofCase: 13-month-old girl in nursery schoolwould

saikokaryukotsuboreito

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 9, Number 1 | Spring 2014

Reference:
Categories of states of the heart in traditional
medicine and corresponding prescriptions
Category 1 (mainly weakness of the heart, heart
blood deficiency, liver qi deficiency)
Anxiousness, insecurity, sadness, fear (timidity), etc.
In particular, depressive and passive feelings
continue for a prolonged period.

kanbakudaisoto ,keishikaryukotsuboreito , etc.
Prescription:

kamikihito ,Category 2 (mainly liver depression qi stagnation)
Depression, insecurity, anxiousness, hysterics, etc.
Physical tension is strong, and moods tend to readilychange.
Prescription: shigyakusan, saibokuto, etc.
Category 3 (mainly hyperactivity of heart fire,
upward flaming of liver fire, gallbladder stagnation
with disturbance from phlegm)
Anxiousness, short temper, restlessness, impatience,etc.
In particular, agitated symptoms tend to continue fora prolonged period.

yokukansan, yokukansankachinpihange,orengedokuto, daisaikotokyodaio, etc.
Prescription:

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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