Summary
The poor quality of life (QOL) of a chronic pain patient is the result of a vicious cycle of bio-psycho-social interactions. Traditional Oriental medicine is useful in making the diagnosis of functional diseases. One hundred and fifty patients with chronic pain have been evaluated from the viewpoint of traditional Oriental medicine. Four characteristics were analyzed:
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1.
Decreased physical strength (Kyoshou or Kyojitsukanshou)
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2.
Poor systemic hemodynamics (Oketsu; blood stasis)
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3.
Chillness in the extremities (Kanshou)
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4.
Tenderness in the upper abdomen (Kyoukyoukuman)
The Oketsu syndrome was found to be associated with a low stroke volume and high systemic vascular resistance. The patients with chillness were found to have disturbances in the inotropic action of sympathetic cardiac nerves, which is closely related to cardiac insufficiency. Kyoukyou-kuman also implies cardiac insufficiency. In essence, the hemodynamic state of chronic pain patients resembles the “hypokinetic syndrome” of “dysdynamic syndrome”. The pathology of chronic pain is complex and composed of various factors. Psychosomatic approaches and traditional Oriental approaches provide methodologies for problem-solving in chronic pain patients. These approaches are practiced in the context of comprehensive medicine, that is, patient-centered medicine.
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© 1994 Tsutomu Oyama
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Nagata, K. (1994). Traditional Oriental Approaches to the Management of Chronic Pain. In: Oyama, T., Smith, G. (eds) Pain and Kampo. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68260-8_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68260-8_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-68262-2
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-68260-8
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