A Case of Dysmenorrhea with Headache Improved by Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaenggang-tang

Ju-Hyun Lee; Dae-Young Kim; Jeong-Moon Lee; Lee, Ju-Hyun; Kim, Dae-Young; Lee, Jeong-Moon

doi:10.13048/jkm.25044

JKM > Volume 46(3); 2025 > Article

Lee, Kim, and Lee: A Case of Dysmenorrhea with Headache Improved by Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaenggang-tang

Case Report

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2025; 46(3): 191-198.

Published online: September 1, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.25044

A Case of Dysmenorrhea with Headache Improved by Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaenggang-tang

Ju-Hyun Lee¹^{, §}^{, *}

, Dae-Young Kim²^{, §}

, Jeong-Moon Lee³

¹Department of Medical Support, Imsil-gun Medical Center

²Warm Korean Medicine Clinic, Bucheon

³Department of Korean Medicine, Graduate School of Wonkwang University

Correspondence to: Ju-Hyun Lee, Department of Medical Support, Imsil-gun Medical Center, 1680 Hoguk-ro, Imsil, 55927, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-63-640-3338, Fax: +82-63-640-3317, E-mail: tony9403@naver.com

§ These authors contributed equally to this work.

Received July 15, 2025 Revised August 6, 2025 Accepted August 12, 2025

Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to report a case of primary dysmenorrhea improved by Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaen gang-tang.

Methods

The patient complained of symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, headache, chest tightness, and insomnia. The patient was diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea, considering that the pain existed just after the onset of menstruation and no clear causative lesion was found. As the patient’s symptoms were thought to be due to decreased metabolism, Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaenggang-tang was prescribed.

Results

About 75 days after administration of Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaenggang-tang, headache, insomnia, and chest thightness completely disappeared (NRS 10 → 0). Menstrual pain decreased to less than half of that of the first visit (NRS 10 → 3 on the first day, NRS 10 → 1 after the next day).

Conclusion

This study is significant in that the patient’s symptoms and overall condition were improved after administration of Dangguisaryeokgaosuyusenggang-tang.

Keywords: Case Report, Dysmenorrhea, Traditional Medicine, Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaenggang-tang

Fig. 1

Treatment Timeline

Table 1

Systematic Examination

大便	변비 경향이다. 2–3일에 1번 정도 변을 본다. 잔변감이 있다.
小便	소변을 시원하게 본다. 소변을 하루 3–4회 가량 본다.
寒熱	추위를 탄다. 손발이 찬 편이다 (몇년 전)
汗出	땀이 많은 편이다. 긴장 시 손발에서 땀이 잘 난다.
食慾	식욕 보통이다. 배고픈 걸 참기 힘들다.
胸部	평소 한숨을 잘 쉰다. 대중 교통을 이용하면 공황이 오는 것처럼 가슴이 답답해진다.
消化	소화 보통이다. 트림을 자주 한다. 배에 가스가 많이 찬다.
睡眠	잠을 잘 못잔다. 잠이 드는데 30분에서 1시간 정도 걸린다. 수면제를 복용 중이다. 커피 마시면 잠을 잘 못잔다.
皮膚	햇빛 알레르기가 있다.
其他	몸이 잘 붓는다. 얼굴, 종아리 쪽이 자주 붓는다. 체력이 약하다.

Table 2

Symptom Evaluation Index

Symptom Severity
Dysmenorrhea	Pelvic Pain	0 (None) ~ 10 (Severe)
	Headache
	Insomnia

Table 3

Prescription of Danggwisayeokgaohsuyusaenggang-tang

Name of Natural	Medicine (Herbal Medicine)	Weight(g)
生薑	Zingiber officinale Roscoe	16
大棗	Ziziphus jujuba Mill.	12
肉桂	Cinnamomum cassia Nees	6
芍藥	Paeonia lactiflora Pall.	6
當歸	Angelica gigas Nakai	6
細辛	Asarum sieboldii Miq.	6
木通	Akebia quinata (Thunb.) Decne.	4
吳茱萸	Tetradium ruticarpum (A.Juss.) T.G. Hartley	4
甘草	Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.	4

Total Amount		64

Table 4

Symptom Progress of Dysmen

		2025. 03.04	2025. 03.21	2025. 04.09	2025. 04.28	2025. 05.30
Dysmenorrhea	Pelvic Pain	10	10	3	1–2	1
	Headache	10	1–2	0	0	0
	Insomnia	10	3	1	1	0

Total		30	14–15	4	2–3	1

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