A Case Report of Postherpetic Neuralgia Treated with Kyung Hee <italic>Gongjin-dan</italic> and <italic>Hyangbujapalmul-tang-gagam</italic>

Abstract

The most common definition of postherpetic neuralgia is the presence of pain more than a month after the onset of the eruption of zoster. This case report suggests the effect of Korean medicine on postherpetic neuralgia. An 85-year-old male patient with postherpetic neuralgia was treated with a combination of Korean medical remedies. Kyung Hee <i>Gongjin-dan</i> and <i>Hyangbujapalmul-tang-gagam</i> were applied for 23 days. The Numerical Rating Scale was used to measure pain intensity. The Barthel Index and Beck Depression Inventory were used for the functional assessment and depression evaluation, respectively. After treatment, the patient’s pain intensity decreased. Additionally, the patient’s independence increased during activity, and the severity of their depression decreased. Thus, this case suggests that a combination of Korean medicine treatments might be effective for postherpetic neuralgia. In particular, it shows that Kyung Hee <i>Gongjin-dan</i> and <i>Hyangbujapalmul-tang-gagam</i> can be therapeutic options in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.