treats these diseases with a variety of medicines. However, kampo medicine
prescribes one individualised formula to treat the whole body, and eventu-
ally restore a normal physiological environment. In general, kampo medi-
cines also have fewer adverse effects than modern medicines. Recently, some
kampo medicines have been recognised as effective for the prevention of the
progression of dementia such as Alzheimer’s diseases and cerebrovascular
disorders in Japan.2,3Kampo medicine does seem to be a very suitable treat-
ment for older patients. The use of kampo medicines may also contribute to
the reduction in medical costs.
Table 8.2 shows examples of component herbs of kampo formulae that
are used or expected as medicines for the treatment of dementia.
More than 80% of practising physicians have experience of using the
kampo system of medicine depending on the patient’s clinical situation,
either separately or to complement modern western medicines.^4
Kampo medicines bring about benefit to the patients who:
- have diseases that affect physical functions
- have responded poorly to modern medical treatment or suffered side
effects - have improved on clinical examination, yet remained ill
- are normal on clinical examination, but remain affected
- are expected to show an improvement of the constitution or have a
tendency towards psychosomatic disorders - have decreased physical strength.
230 | Traditional medicine
Figure 8.2 Active ingredients of kampo medicines.
Human body
Endogenous
factorsKampo
medicinesActive ingredientsIntestinal
bacteriaGastric
juiceImmune system
Endocrine system
Neural system
Circulation system
Organ