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Diagnosis

Kampo diagnosis (sho) uses the holistic pattern of a patient’s symptoms to
determine the appropriate kampo formulae. The procedure investigates the
following:

• The state ofki,ketsuand sui, yin–yang


• Any hypofunction and hyperfunction of body systems


• Any heat or cold in the superficies and interior of the body


• The five parenchymatous viscera (liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney)


• The six stages of disease.

For example, shoof Kakkonto (Ge-Gen-Tang)is the symptom showing
fever, neck and back pain, no sweat and aversion to wind. The pulse diagnosis
is categorised as being ‘floating and powerful’.
Four examination methods are used:

• Visual examination (overall, eyes, complexion, skin, nails, hair, lips
  and tongue)


• Examination by sense of hearing and smell


• Question and answer


• Sphygmopalpation (feeling the pulse) and abdominal palpation.
  Diagnosis of kampo medicine significantly differs from TCM in its use
  of abdominal diagnosis by palpation.

232 | Traditional medicine

KUT KKT TSS SMT ORG CTS

Uncariae uncis cum ramulus 

Ophiopogonis tuber 

Tachibana pericarpium 

Chrysanthemi flos 

Saphoshnikoviae radix 

Gypsum fibrosum 

Table 8.2Continued

CTS, Chotosan; KKT, Kamikihito; KUT, Kamiuntanto; ORG, Ourengedokuto; SMT, Shimotsuto; TSS,

Tokishakutyakusan.