An Objective Evaluation on Menopausal Syndrome and the Effect of Red Ginseng

In order to evaluate menopausal syndrome objectively, examinations were performed as follows: 1) Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI Koyama) and QOL questionnaire (Nagata) were examined subjectively. 2) Urine 17-KS-5 (S Nishikaze), 17-OHCS (OH) were examined objectively. 3) A mobile telemedical device with EKG and KSG was lent to Patients. The subjects were 48 menopausal patients who visited our university hospital as outpatients. According to the results of 5, OH, the subjects were divided into 4 Groups; Group I is high S & high OH, Group ll low S & low OH, Group 111 is low S & high OH, Group tl is high S & low OH. Group IH was the largest (64.6%), Group of was none. The subjects showed significantly lower QOL condition and higher score of SMI. In the QOL, questionnaire items of fixation to physical status (psychogenic reaction), sleep (insomnia), pain(chronic pain) were in common. In SMI, functional vascular symptoms were the largest number. On treatment, Group I was considered to have no need for supplementary agents, but anti-Oketsu agents was prescribed. For Group ll and in some supplementary agents such as red ginseng were prescribed, because they showed low 5. In conclusion, all the groups showed a sign- nificant improvement of QOL and SMI. Group I showed a decrease of OH, Group ll showed an increase of 5, Group In showed an increase of S and SIOH and a decrease of OH. These phenomena were considered prohomeostatic. In QOL, the items of chronic pain, insomnia and appetite were improved. In SMI, chillness, dyspnea, palpitation, pain and fatigability were improved. In mobile tole-medical device, abnormal findings were found in 88.2% of patients. General sdaptation syndrome (Selye, H.) is considered to adjust human life. Menopause is the transit period to exhausted stage in it. So its symptoms vary from person to person. In conclusion, 5 and OH are useful both for classification of menopausal syndrome and for determining treatments according to the classification