Kampo

Kampō (or Kanpō , 漢方) medicine is the Japanese study and adaptation of Chinese medicine. The first Chinese medical works to be introduced to Japan is said to have occurred around the 4th or 5th Century A.D. Since then, the Japanese have created their own unique herbal medical system and diagnosis. Kampo utilizes most of the Chinese medical system including acupuncture and moxibustion, but is primarily concerned with the study of herbs.

Today in Japan, Kampo is integrated into the national health care system. Since 1967, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved 148 Kampo formulas for coverage and reimbursement in the national health insurance plan. Every approved formula produced by different manufacturers is composed of exactly the same ingredients under the Ministry’s standardization methodology. The formulas are therefore prepared under strict manufacturing conditions that rival pharmaceutical companies. Rather than modifying formulas as in Chinese medicine, the Japanese Kampo tradition uses fixed and precise combinations of herbs in standardized amounts according to the classical literature of Chinese medicine. Extensive modern scientific research in Japan has validated the efficacy of Kampo formulas. Today, fully 75% of Japanese physicians prescribe Kampo formulas.

In the United States, Kampo is practiced mostly by acupuncturists, Chinese medicine practitioners, naturopath physicians, and other alternative medicine professionals. Kampo herbal formulas are studied under clinical trials, such as the clinical study of Sho-saiko-to (H09) for treatment of hepatitis C at New York Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C at UCSD Liver Center.Both clinical trials are sponsored by Honso USA, Inc., a US branch of Honso Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nagoya, Japan.

Recommended Reading:

1. Research in Japanese Botanical Medicine and Immune Modulating Cancer Therapy - Kampo, Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, August, 2001 by Dan Kenner, Ph.D.

2. Complementary Medicine: The Yin and the Yang: Two Party System for Healing by Alan Glombicki, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Texas, Houston, TX

3. KAMPO MEDICINE: The Practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Japan by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon

4. Treating Chronic Liver Disease with Kampo Formula Sho-saiko-to by Dan Wen, MD, Phoenix, Arizona

健康チェック - 体力、食生活、疲労度などの項目別チェックとアドバイス。
-- http://www.kampo.japanpost.jp/kenkou/check/ World: Japanese: 健康: 体調・症例: 家庭の医学 (1)

あおやまクリニック - 中区。漢方と西洋医学を組み合わせて適用。診療案内、適応症。
-- http://www.e-kampo.jp/ World: Japanese: 地域: アジア: 日本: 愛知: 市町村: 名古屋市: 健康 (1)

かんぽ - 郵便局の簡易保険の紹介、かんぽの宿の空室照会、住所変更届。
-- http://www.kampo.japanpost.jp/ World: Japanese: 社会: 政治・行政: 官公庁: 総務省: 日本郵政公社 (1)

観峰塾 - 観峰流の書道教室、観峰美術館とミュリエル・ガチーニ女史による西洋カリグラフィーのスクール紹介。
-- http://www.kampo.co.jp/ World: Japanese: アート: ビジュアルアート: 書・カリグラフィー: 書道 (1)

Kyoto Journal - A non-profit volunteer-based quarterly magazine with essays, poetry, fiction, and photos.
-- http://www.kampo.co.jp/kyoto-journal/ Regional: Asia: Japan: Prefectures: Kyoto (1)