脊椎すべり症の漢方療法 Successful treatment of spondylolisthesis with medicinal herbs

It has been reported that some herbal medicines may be effective for acute episodes of　chronic nonspecific lower back pain. Spondylolisthesis is one of the causes of lower back　or neck pain. To our knowledge, successful treatment of symptomatic spondylolisthesis　with medicinal herbs has not been previously reported in the published work. A 63-yearold　female had suffered from back pain for 4 years. Radiographs revealed spondylolisthesis　at the L3 level. In another case, an 82-year-old female suffered from neck pain. X-ray　examinations revealed cervical spondylolisthesis at the C4 level. Several herbs were administered　to these patients with symptomatic spondylolisthesis according to the guidelines for　herbal medicine. Significant improvements in pain were obtained within 4 weeks in both　patients. The pain completely disappeared after 20 weeks (case 1) and 6 weeks (case 2) of　treatment. Although surgical treatment is often performed for symptomatic spondylolisthesis,　the findings of the present cases imply the therapeutic potential of herbal medicine
in selected patients.