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The development of the Kampo medicines industry
Published in Stephan Kloos, Calum Blaikie, Asian Medical Industries, 2022
Ichiro Arai, Julia S. Yongue, Kiichiro Tsutani
The roots of Kampo medicine date back to the sixth century CE when Chinese medicine was first imported into Japan. It was then “localised,” in some cases by substituting foreign with indigenous plants, during the late Edo period (1603–1868) to suit local preferences and needs (Tsutani 2006). Influenced by various schools (such as Kohō 古方, Gōse 後世, Sechū 折衷), this localised Chinese medicine gradually became known as Kanpō (漢方) or “Han method” medicine (Kitajima 2017). Today the term Wakanyaku, which combines the Chinese characters of 和 (wa) signifying Japan, 漢 (han, often pronounced kan in modern Japanese) or Han China, and medicine 薬 (yaku), can be translated as “Japanese and Chinese crude drug.” Since 1976, however, Kanpo seizai (漢方製剤) or “Kampo” has become the official term employed in Japan’s modern healthcare system, a distinctive feature of which is the integration of biomedicine and Kampo medicine into one single medical system.1 Accordingly, any physician licensed to practice in Japan can prescribe either type of medication to a patient, who can then expect equal coverage – regardless of the type – under the country’s National Health Insurance (NHI). Moreover, in addition to NHI coverage, both types of medicine are subject to the same systems of pharmacovigilance, relief for the sufferers of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and new drug approval procedures.2 Within Japan’s regulatory framework, therefore, Kampo medicines are technically no different from biomedicines.3
The Definition of TM
Published in Goh Cheng Soon, Gerard Bodeker, Kishan Kariippanon, Healthy Ageing in Asia, 2022
Shifting our focus to Japan, its TM is known as “Kampo medicine,” which has a long historical development, mainly rooted from the Chinese tradition which was clearly indicated by the term “Kampo,” meaning “method from the Han period (206 BC to 220 AD) of ancient China (Watanabe et al., 2011).” Under the influence of modern medicine, abdomen palpation technique (fukuship) had been introduced into Kampo diagnosis (sho) (Fujikawa, 1904). Today, Kampo medicine is based on diagnostic methods that directly relate the symptoms to the therapy, but not on the principle of Yin–Yang and five-element theory. Interestingly, a total of 148 Kampo herbal prescriptions can be prescribed under the national health insurance system in Japan.
Alternative to hormone replacement therapy for menopausal management: possible role of Kampo medicine
Published in Barry G. Wren, Progress in the Management of the Menopause, 2020
T. Aso, T. Koyama, H. Kaneko, M. Seki
One of the basic concepts of Kampo medicine is that the normal mental and physical conditions can be maintained on the balance of Qi, Ketsu and Sui. Qi has functions but is not identified as a material. It encompasses mental nervous activity, especially the appetite for food and the actual process of digesting and absorbing nutrients. When Qi is rushing to the head, flashing, headaches, palpitation and sweating are induced. Conversely, in the state of depressed Qi, depression, neurotic symptoms and loss of appetite, so-called stagnated Qi symptoms are observed. It can be pointed out that most of these signs are included in the so-called climacteric symptoms.
The treatment of menopausal symptoms by traditional Chinese medicine in Asian countries
Published in Climacteric, 2021
TCM spread from China to Japan between the seventh and ninth centuries, and gradually became Japanese herbal medicine. In Japan, more than 90% of Japanese gynecologists have prescribed traditional Japanese multi-herb medicinal formulae for women’s health, including menopausal symptoms. The Japanese Kampo formulas are regulated as prescription pharmaceutical medicines by the Japanese Ministry of Health and have been covered by the national health-care plan for over 35 years13. Several clinical trials with a treatment duration from 8 weeks to 6 months on Kampo for improving menopausal symptoms were conducted in Japan. The Greene climacteric scale, the KMI, or in-house symptom questionnaires were used as outcome measurements. They all showed some degree of improvement in symptoms or positive changes in biomarkers in the Kampo treatment groups. It was found that, whereas MHT treatment was effective after only 1 month, Kampo formulae took up to 6 months to achieve such effects. In these studies, the therapeutic effects of MHT were superior for hot flushes, excessive perspiration, depression, and insomnia, whereas Kampo therapy was superior for general malaise and chills16. In Japan, many menopausal women take Modified XiaoYao San or Guizhi Fuling pills to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Modified XiaoYao San is regarded as a good medicine for the treatment of hot flushes, insomnia, and emotional tension17.
LC-MS/MS detection of citrus unshiu peel-derived flavonoids in the plasma and brain after oral administration of yokukansankachimpihange in rats
Published in Xenobiotica, 2019
Mikina Takiyama, Takashi Matsumoto, Junko Watanabe
Pharmacokinetics studies of the active ingredients of Kampo medicines have been conducted in vitro and in vivo. For example, a clinical pharmacokinetic study in humans demonstrated that GM was detected in the plasma after oral administration of YKS (Kitagawa et al., 2015a). Studies using rats demonstrated that GM was detected not only in the plasma but also in the brain after oral administration of YKS (Imamura et al., 2011; Kushida et al., 2013). In vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) assay demonstrated that GM was able to cross the BBB (Imamura et al., 2011). These pharmacokinetic findings of GM, in combination with the pharmacological findings previously described, strongly supported that GM was the active ingredient responsible for the psychopharmacological action of YKS. However, no pharmacokinetics information is available for YKSCH.
Combined Nutraceuticals: A Novel Approach to Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer?
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2019
Lauren C. Chartier, Gordon S. Howarth, Suzanne Mashtoub
Kampo medicine is a traditional Japanese herbal medicine derived from ancient China (41), and contains combinations of 3–30 plant-based ingredients. Many Kampo formulae are covered by health insurance in Japan, therefore patients often receive Western and Kampo treatment simultaneously. Kampo is believed to enhance immunity, improve pre- and post-operative conditions and alleviate adverse drug reactions in GI conditions and cancers (42). In 2012, a review of 900 physicians from core cancer hospitals in Japan found 92% of the physicians surveyed actively prescribed Kampo and 74% of these were prescribed to cancer patients (43). Interestingly, only 23% of physicians expected high efficacy in tumor suppression; however, patients believed that Kampo suppressed tumor growth and exhibited fewer side-effects than Western medicine (43,44). This discrepancy warrants further investigation into the efficacy of Kampo in pre-clinical models of disease and cancer to ease expectations between physician and patient.