Clinical efficacy of psychotherapy inclusive of Buddhist psychology in female psychosomatic medicine

Human beings have been asking themselves about the meaning of life and the significance of human life since ancient times. Medical care in cooperation with religion can save human's mind and body. Being burdened with a lot of social/cultural problems in the modern Japanese society, climacteric women who consult a doctor for symptoms of indefinite complaint have been increasing. One of the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama is “Seeing things as they really are” (“Nyojitsu-chiken” in Japanese). This means that seeing the reality as it is and is the way of thinking that “it is important to embrace the reality and live positively, instead of trying to do everything as one wants to and turning a blind eye to the reality.” Psychotherapy inclusive Buddhist psychology was performed in 16 climacteric women with undefined symptoms. Visual analog scale for subjective symptoms decreased significantly after 2–6 months of treatment (25.7 ± 10.2) from the baseline value (72.4 ± 12.8) (p < 0.0001). After psychotherapy, no change was observed in plasma cortisol concentration; however, salivary chromogranin A concentration significantly decreased (− 61%). Practice of Buddhism is the same as psychotherapy in which suffering people become aware of ‘self,’ find a way of self-fulfillment, and release their minds from suffering. The practice of integrated psychotherapy of acceptance and sympathy, support, and assurance into “Not same individuality, but same human”, “Seeing things as they really are”, and “There is no such things as permanence” as Buddhist psychology is highly expected in the female psychosomatic medicine.